Old Jack was a hobo
A man of no means
Who spent his life looking in old Dustbins?
Eating stale bread and beans
Some days he might be unlucky
He had good days and bad
But to him life was free and easy
Some of the best times he’d had
But the worst time is the winter
Sleeping on his bench in the park
Just a Times newspaper
To keep him warm in the dark
When the Snow came in 69
A bad year all round
Even he wondered that winter
If one morning, dead he would be found
Bur surprisingly, his old army great coat
Was so thick and warm, comforting too?
People would recognise him immediately
And say how do you do
He travelled the roads
The kings highways no less
With his belongings in a swag bag
And his old mongrel called Jess
His faithful companion
For many a year
Together they had been roaming the district
With a smile and good cheer
But the sixty nine winter
Did them no good at all
They were in trouble
The minute the first Snow did fall
Trying to shelter
Under the bench in the park, just they two
Poor old Jack was near death
And Jess was too
But this particular morning early, before first light
The Reverend Peabody
Was walking home this dark night
He had been late at the church
Wanting to be home before daylight
Seeing the stricken two companions
Freezing to death in the Snow
He awoke the two wanderers
And home with him they did go
Once inside the Vicarage
With a raging hearth fire on show
Settling in quietly with some tea and some cake
And old Jess lying in front of the fire
What a scene it did make
Soon both fast asleep
Off to bed the Vicar did go
Whilst the our two trepid explorers
Slept through the worst Snow
In the Morning bright and early
Just before dawn
Both jack and Jess
Awoke with a yawn
About an hour later
The Vicar came down to make some tea
But all he found was an empty room you see
Both jack and Jess had taken their leave you see
But had left a note
Thanking the vicar for his kindness to his hospitality
But they had not wanted to be a burden
On him or society
So back on the road
Refreshed and with a spring in their gait
To enjoy the open road and to wander
Before it was too late
Thanks to the Vicar’s kindness
They both had a new lease of life
To think someone had cared
About their suffering and strife
So always remember
A good deed will bring happiness
So never pass by, when someone is in distress