ONLY A PIN.
I. H. Brown
Only a pin, yet it calmly lay,
On the carpeted floor in the light of day!
And shone serene and clear and bright,
Reflecting back the noon-day light.

Only a boy, yet he saw that pin,
And his face assumed a fiendish grin,
He stooped for a while, with look intent,
Till he and the pin alike were bent.

Only a man, but he chanced to drop
Upon that chair; when bang! whiz! pop!
Like a cork from a bottle of champagne
He bounded right up from that chair again.

Only a yell, but an honest one,
It lacked the remotest idea of fun,
And the man and boy, and pin and chair,
In close communication mingled there.

Only the pin out of all the four
Alone no trace of damage bore;
The man was mad and dreadfully sore;
He lathered the boy behind and before.

The chair lay smashed upon the floor,
It's seat was not hurt but the boy was raw.