Jones was a gospel preacher,
Of ancient kind, (thy say,)
Who walked with circumspection
Along the narrow way.

He was a noted stickler
For chapter, verse, command,
For pattern and for model,
As any in the land.

On bank of creek in Texas
He read, in accents bold,
What Philip and the eunuch
Did in the days of old.

"While riding in a chariot,
Upon the public way,
They came to certain water,
These holy records say."

"The eunuch stopped the chariot,
They both went down into
The good baptismal water,
As some folks never do."

"Now, friends, if you will watch us,
You'll see without disguise
That story re-enacted
Right here before your eyes!"

He took his convert's elbow,
And walked-- "they came unto" --
"Now watch us, friends, right closely,
And see what we shall do."

But recent rains had rendered
That creek bank rather slick,
And it played that good preacher
A naughty, naughty trick!

"They went down both" -- he read it --
Their feet flew in the air!
And wrecked that Bible model
Completely--then and there!

Down in the mud they floundered,
Upon their backbones flat:
"I don't think preacher Philip
Did such a thing as that!"

Back to T.R. Burnett Page