Child Lover

Read 'Child Lover' by 'Robert William Service' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

Child Lover by Robert William Service

 Drunk or sober Uncle Jim
 Played the boy;
Never glum or sour or grim,
 Oozin' joy.
Most folks thought he was no good,
 Blamin' him;
But where kiddies were, you could
 Bank on Jim.

Sure he allus hated work,
 Lovin' play.
"Jest a good fer nuthin' jerk,"
 Lots would say.
Yet how the children fell for him,
 Whooped with glee:
Guys so popular as Jim
 Seldom be.

How old songs, sweet as a bell,
 He would sing!
What grand stories he would tell,
 Gesturin'!
Elders reckoned him a sot,
 Sighin' sad;
But with tiny toddlers what
 Sport he had!

Might have had a brood, they said,
 Of his own;
Lost his wife in childbirth bed,
 Left him lone . . .
Well, now he is cold an' still,
 Here's to him:
Kids an' mothers always will
 Bless old Jim.

Form: Ballad Comments

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