In the market by the poultry stand
I saw him, peeping-eyed,
with his lop ear and his funny nose
and lots of straw beside.

I passed him by and slowed a bit;
then, halting in my stride,
I turned again to look at it,
and all the straw beside.

Moving on a yard or more
I met old Thomson Hyde,
went into the Bull and Boar,
and sat down there inside.

I saw him in my mind's eye clear,
as clear as if I spied
him lying by the counter there,
and all the straw beside.

On old Thompson's bicycle
as fast as I could ride
I hastened to the poultry-stand,
"How much the pup" I cried.

But though the words came from my lips,
all my hopes had died.
For there was only a piece of rope
and a heap of straw beside.