Explore "Soldier and Gander" by James McIntyre on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
When Sherman marched through Georgia, / Hanger in soldiers oft did knaw;
A soldier longing for to dine / He soon procured a hook and line, / And put on hook a tempting bait.
And old wife stood beside her gate, / And round her a flock of geese;
The soldier he resolved to fleece / The old Irtdy of her gander, / And make it from flock to wander;
Quick as the soldier threw the bait / The gander then it left each mate.
And it then seem'd to the beholder / As if the gander chased the soldier;
Old lady told soldier not to run, / For gander only was in fun, / And she would pledge to him her word, / The gander was kind-hearted bird;
She never knew him yet to fight, / For in good deeds he took delight.
The soldier cried, "I will not stay, / But from fierce fowl will run away";
Old woman she could not divine, / Gander was pulled by hook and line.
When soldier got across the hill, / He took the hook from out its bill, / Twisted its neck, and goose did roast, / Oft of that meal he yet doth boast.