And lawyers bold and statesmen brave Who make the President behave Moved out of sight as quick as wink; To offer help they didn’t think; But they were hunters just the same, Though hunting bears wasn’t quite their game.
The boys who answer the call of bells Lost all the breath they use for yells In crossing lawns in serious fright; They rein for home with all their might.
And secretaries, three or four, Got under desks down on the floor When they saw the Bears at the entrance door.
But one little lad who was playing round When he saw the Bears, he stood his ground And stepped up bravely to TEDDY-G And said, “Who is it you want to see?”
Said TEDDY-G in his kindliest way, “We have traveled East and have come to-day To see the hunter who doesn’t scare And who isn’t afraid of man or bear.”
The Bears by the lad were keenly eyed, And he said as he beckoned them both inside: “My Dad’s in here; but wipe your feet; I think you’re the kind he likes to meet.
They stepped inside, and the man they saw Looked them over from head to paw And with outstretched hand and smiling face He gave them welcome to the place.
Said TEDDY-G, when he caught his breath, I thought this call meant certain death. We armed ourselves with loaded gun When we struck this town of Washington, For here ’twas said we’d surely see The man who chased bears up a tree And with both eyes shut on darkest night Could hit a bear and win a fight.”
“To stand your ground,” said TEDDY-B, “Is the thing that we Bears like to see; If fighting’s trump or simply fun, We stand, eyes front, and never run; But those men of yours who guard your fort Should be taken West for a little sport And taught the things you learned out there When climbing mountains chasing bear.”
But he simply laughed at what they said And joked of stories he had read In newspapers of things they’d done On their journey East to Washington. They talked away for an hour or two Of hunting trips and friends they knew, And this country wide and its cities great From Boston Hub to the Golden Gate. The Bears were asked to come next day At an early hour to have a play On the White House grounds and in children’s tent And to breakfast with the President.
This visit o’er they started out To see the buildings all about: The Capitol with its rounded dome Where the U. S. Senate makes its home, And congressmen from every State Gather in halls to deliberate; The Treasury with its vaults of gold, As much as a dozen trains could hold,