- Aug 10, 2009
- 168,037
- 16,519
- 2,165
- Banned
- #181
Dedicated to the trolls
Hearsay
In every town, in every street,
In nearly every house, you meet
A little imp, who wriggles in
With half a sneer and half a grin,
And climbs upon your rocking chair,
Or creeps upon you anywhere;
And when he gets you very near,
Just whispers something in your ear—
Some rumor of another's shame—
And "Little Hearsay" is his name.
He never really claims to know—
He's only heard that it is so;
And then he whispers it to you,
So you will go and whisper too.
For if enough is passed along
The rumor, even though it's wrong—
If John tells Henry, Henry—Joe,
And Joe tells Mary, Mary—Flo,
And Flo tells Mildred, Mildred—Ruth—
It very soon may pass for truth.
You understand, this little elf
He doesn't say he knows himself,
He doesn't claim it's really true—
He only whispers it to you,
Because he knows you'll go and tell
Some other whisperer as well.
And so before the setting sun
He gets the devil's mischief done,
And there is less of joy and good
Around your little neighborhood.
Look out for "Hearsay!" when he sneaks
Inside the house—when slander speaks
Just ask the proof in every case;
Just ask the name and date and place;
And if he says he's only heard,
Declare you don't believe a word,
And tell him you will not repeat
The silly chatter of the street.
However gossips smile and smirk,
Refuse to do their devil's work.
Hearsay
In every town, in every street,
In nearly every house, you meet
A little imp, who wriggles in
With half a sneer and half a grin,
And climbs upon your rocking chair,
Or creeps upon you anywhere;
And when he gets you very near,
Just whispers something in your ear—
Some rumor of another's shame—
And "Little Hearsay" is his name.
He never really claims to know—
He's only heard that it is so;
And then he whispers it to you,
So you will go and whisper too.
For if enough is passed along
The rumor, even though it's wrong—
If John tells Henry, Henry—Joe,
And Joe tells Mary, Mary—Flo,
And Flo tells Mildred, Mildred—Ruth—
It very soon may pass for truth.
You understand, this little elf
He doesn't say he knows himself,
He doesn't claim it's really true—
He only whispers it to you,
Because he knows you'll go and tell
Some other whisperer as well.
And so before the setting sun
He gets the devil's mischief done,
And there is less of joy and good
Around your little neighborhood.
Look out for "Hearsay!" when he sneaks
Inside the house—when slander speaks
Just ask the proof in every case;
Just ask the name and date and place;
And if he says he's only heard,
Declare you don't believe a word,
And tell him you will not repeat
The silly chatter of the street.
However gossips smile and smirk,
Refuse to do their devil's work.
