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My prayers I said, I went to bed,
And soon I fell asleep:
But soon I woke, my sleep was broke,
I through my curtain peep.
I heard a noise of men and boys,
The watchman's rattle too;
And "fire" they cried—and then cried I,
Oh dear! what shall I do?
A shout so loud came from the crowd
Around, above, below;
And in the street the neighbors meet,
Who would the matter know.
Now down the stairs run threes and pairs
Enough to break their bones;
The firemen swear, the engines tear
And thunder o'er the stones.
The roof and wall, and stair and all,
And rafters tumble in;
Red flames and blaze now all amaze,
And make a dreadful din!
And horrid screams, when bricks and beams
Come tumbling on their heads;
And some are smashed, and some are crashed;
Some leap on feather beds.
Some burn, some choke with fire and smoke!
And oh, what was the cause
My heart's dismayed, last night I played
With Tommy, lighting straws!
Adelaide Taylor
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