An obituary notice of a boy, 10 years old, in _The Wilmington
Commercial_, contains the following statement: "In his dying moments he
charged his brother WILLIAM not to dance, or sing any more songs.
Funeral services preached by the Rev WM. R. TUBB."
This pious Boy lay on his bed,
A dying very fast;
'Most every word this good Boy said,
They thought 'twould be his last.
The Reverend Mr. TUBB was there,
A praying very slow;
It was a solemn, sad affair;
Twas plain the Boy must go.
His brother WILLIAM:, he come o'er,
To which this good Boy cried,
"Oh, BILL, don't sing nor dance no more!"
And following which he died.
Now WILLIAM, he had learnt a song
That pleased him very much:
He didn't know that it was wrong
To carol any such.
He said he couldn't leave it go,
Not if he was to die;
And that same song, as all should know,
Was called by him, "Shoo Fly."
He was informed by Mr. TUBBS
That he would fall down dead,
Or else get killed by stones or clubs,
With that thing in his head.
But, such is life! Poor WILLIAM went
And sung his Shoo Fly o'er:
Not knowing that he would be sent
Where Shoo Flies are no more,
He was a singing, one wet day,
And likewise dancing too,
When lightning took his sole away--
Let this warn me and you!
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