Soldier and Gander

When Sherman marched through Georgia,
Hanger in soldiers oft did knaw;
A soldier longing for to dine
He soon procured a hook and line,

And put on hook a tempting bait.
And old wife stood beside her gate,
And round her a flock of geese;
The soldier he resolved to fleece

The old Irtdy of her gander,
And make it from flock to wander;
Quick as the soldier threw the bait
The gander then it left each mate.

And it then seem’d to the beholder
As if the gander chased the soldier;
Old lady told soldier not to run,
For gander only was in fun,

And she would pledge to him her word,
The gander was kind-hearted bird;
She never knew him yet to fight,
For in good deeds he took delight.

The soldier cried, “I will not stay,
But from fierce fowl will run away”;
Old woman she could not divine,
Gander was pulled by hook and line.

When soldier got across the hill,
He took the hook from out its bill,
Twisted its neck, and goose did roast,
Oft of that meal he yet doth boast.