There lived a nice old gentleman
Who had a little stove,
On it he cooked his daily meals
And wanted nothing more.
But then arrived a company
Who danced and played deedle-deedle
Four little nice cockroaches
And cricket with a fiddle.
Then the unhappy gentleman
A pound of poison bought
Poured it on the stove
So to destroy the lot.
Later he looked about
Hoping for the best... but oh!
The cosy merry company
Were sitting on the stove
All waving their tiny paws
And shouting"hello"!
They'd goggled all the poison
And began their deedle-deedle
Four litle nice cockroaches
And cricket with a fiddle.
Now the poor gentleman
Felt so depressed and low.
Then an idea came to him
To blow up the stove.
After the frightful blow
He felt so relieved but oh!
The cosy merry company
Were sitting on the stones
All looking wonderfully fit
And not a broken bone.
They were as usual very gay
And played their deedle-deedle
Four little nice cockroaches
And cricket with a fiddle.
All of his future hopes
Gave up the gentleman
Sold all his things and rose
To leave his native den.
Came to the South Pole,
Opened his bag, and oh!
The cosy merry company
Were crouching inside,
Presenting to the poor man
The most unwelcome sight.
They started their melody
The funny deedle-deedle
Four little nice cockroaches
And cricket with a fiddle.
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