Tom Potts was fooling with a gun
    (Such follies should not be),
When—bang! the pesky thing went off
    Most unexpectedly !

Tom didn't know 'twas loaded, and
    It scared him 'most to death—
He tumbled flat upont he floor
    And fairly gasped for breath.

The bullet smashed a fine French clock
    (The clock had just struck three),
Then made a hole clean through the wall,
    As you can plainly see.

Peter Newell, The Hole Book, New York, Harper & Brothers, 1908, plate 1.

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