Old Dummy Bill
by
The wind blew cold that winter,
When "Old Dummy" came to town.
And the folk there in that village,
Welcomed "Dummy" with a frown.
They could see that he was different,
When he staggered down the hill.
He was old and he was deaf,
So they named him "Dummy Bill."
He had a knapsack on his back,
And rags upon his feet.
And kids all poked fun at him,
As he hobbled down the street.
Snow fell light that evening,
And the temperature was cold.
The town folk shunned this ragged man,
This stranger deaf and old.
He spent the winter in that town,
And slept in barns and sheds.
But there was not a soul around,
That would offer Bill a bed.
It was hard for that old man,
To try to make ends meet.
As he scrapped out bottles and cans
From dump sites on the street.
When the town folk saw him coming,
Everyone would frown.
Because the old man was different,
They thought he should leave town.
Well, everybody needs a home,
Including "Dummy Bill."
Be it in a cow-barn,
Or mansion on a hill.
In the Spring, Bill packed his knap-sack
And walked out in the street.
And started walking out of town,
Because again he'd met defeat.
A young man living out of town,
By the name of Tyler Gray,
Could see old Bill a walking
From a half a mile away.
He motioned Bill into his yard
And pointed to a shed.
Bill finally found himself a home,
With a table, stove, and bed.
Well, Spring turned into Summer,
And Fall was getting near.
Young Tyler got to know old Bill,
Because he worked with Bill that year.
Bill plowed Ty's field and chopped Ty's wood,
Then helped Ty haul his hay.
Because young Ty had helped old Bill . . .
Bill showed Ty, he'd pay.
One chilly night when it was calm,
"Old Dummy Bill" awoke.
He hurried out into the night
Because he could smell smoke!
He ran upon the front porch
And banged on Tyler's door,
But no one answered old Bill's knock,
So he banged it just once more.
Then he reached down upon the door
And turned a knob of brass.
But when he found the door was locked,
He broke out all the glass.
He ran inside, but couldn't see
The room for all the smoke.
Then he stumbled to the children's room,
And he began to choke.
He grabbed two boys out of their bed
And tuck them to his ribs.
And then he grabbed a baby girl
And pulled her from her crib.
He took the children from the house
Into the air so pure.
And then he laid the children down
And ran back through the door.
He banged around, until he found
Young Ty and Tyler's wife.
With great strength he carried them
Outside and saved their life.
When he found they were okay,
He sat and bowed his head.
Because "Old Dummy's" heart had stopped.
Yes, "Dummy Bill" was dead.
The whole town came to aid poor Ty,
To help his sweet young wife.
They tried to praise the gray-haired man,
That saved the family's life.
It was too late, he didn't know,
That he was loved by all.
So God gave Bill a better home,
When the fire burned that Fall.
Now if someone is different,
Don't turn that soul away
Because they may be like "Dummy Bill,"
And save your life someday!
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