Noble fellow, faithful friend!
Devoted, kind, and true;
In all this wide, wide world I've found
No one who loves like you.
Faithful dog, rememb'rest thou
(Oh, lucky day for thee!)
When thou, a friendless puppy, came
To beg a crust from me?
Then thou wast hungry, footsore, cold,
Thy sides were lank and thin;
But when I saw thy friendly face
I gladly took thee in.
Now thou art beautiful and plump.
Thy fur is soft and sleek,
A pretty collar buckled round
Thy noble, glossy neck.
But thou, oh, noble, trusty friend,
Repay'st this care of mine
A thousand-fold, for who could spurn
Devotion such as thine?
I know if thou, in time to come,
Some other friend should find,
Thou wilt not say of me harsh words
And sentences unkind.
So they who would our friendship scorn--
My fondness would reprove,--
Would better come to thee and learn
True gratitude and love.