Old Jack

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