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From: steve@zinfandel.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Subject: Re: Re: Little Willie - (nf)
Message-ID: <1383@zehntel.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 10-Mar-84 04:19:54 EST
Article-I.D.: zehntel.1383
Posted: Sat Mar 10 04:19:54 1984
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#R:rayssd:-39800:zinfandel:6600105:000:1118
zinfandel!steve    Mar  9 12:59:00 1984


I can trace the origin of "Little Willie" to the poem TENDER-HEARTEDNESS
from RUTHLESS RHYMES FOR HEARTLESS HOMES, published in 1899 by
Harry Jocelyn Clive Graham ("Col. D. Streamer").  Purists note,
the original version is:

		    TENDER-HEARTEDNESS
	    Billy, in one of his nice new sashes,
	    Fell in the fire and was burnt to ashes;
	    Now, although the room grows chilly,
	    I haven't the heart to poke poor Billy.

RUTHLESS RHYMES FOR HEARTLESS HOMES and MORE RUTHLESS RHYMES FOR
HEARTLESS HOMES (1930) are available together in an unabridged
reprint with illustrations from the original editions, published
by (who else?) Dover Books, No. T930.

			QUIET FUN
	    My son Augustus, in the street one day,
	      Was feeling quite exceptionally merry.
	    A stranger asked him: "Can you show me, pray,
	      The quickest way to Brompton Cemetery?"
	    "The quickest way? You bet I can!" said Gus,
	      And pushed the fellow underneath a bus.
			* * *
	    Whatever people say about my son,
	    He does enjoy his little bit of fun.

			-H.G. from MORE RUTHLESS RHYMES

zehntel!zinfandel!steve nelson