Lightning Rod Agent

An agent with both smiles and nods,
Asked Jones to buy his lightning rods;
Said Jones, “You have made a blunder,
I fear not lightning but the thunder.

“Others you may go a frightening,
I tremble not at the lightning;
Those that are scared at them, I wonder,
But I own I dread the thunder.”

“I know,” said agent. “It is true,
Thunder’s most dangerous of the two”;
Said Jones, “Set me up thunder rods,
And from my mind it will take loads.”

Said agent, “Lightning easy glides,
O’er these brass tips it smoothly slides,
But when the thunder loudly rolls,
These nickel tips it soon controls.

But Jones, you are a man of sense,
You see thunder rods are more expense”;
Said Jones, “I care not for the cost,
Safety is what I prize the most.”

Said agent, “Biggest bolt of thunder
Will be harmless as coal cinder;
You then can smile while each explodes,
When we get up your thunder rods.”