You Never Miss The Water

Author Unknown

When a child I lived at Lincoln with my parents on the farm
And lessons that my mother taught me have never lost their charm.
Oft would she take me on her knee when tired of childish play,
And as she press’d me to her breast, I’ve heard her gently say:

Chorus,
Waste not, want not, is a maxim I would teach;
Let your watchword be Dispatch, and practice what you preach.
Do not let your chances like sunbeams pass you by,
For you never mill the water till the well runs dry.

As years rolled on I grew to be a mischief-making boy,
Destruction scented my only sport, it was my only joy;
And well do I remember when ofttimes will chastised,
How he sat beside me then my father thus advised,

When I arrived at manhood and embarked in public life,
I found it was a rugged road, bestrewn with care and strife;
I speculated foolishly, my losses were severe,
But still still a tiny voice kept whisp’ring in my ear.

Then I studied strict economy, and found to my surprise,
My funds instead of sinking full soon began to rise;
I grasped each chance and always struck the iron while ’twas hot.
I seized my opportunities and never once forgot,