Once Daddy brought a puppy home, and he had short brown hair.
We promptly named him Teddy; he was cuddly like a bear.
And I can tell you us kids just loved that little pup,
and he never got much bigger, even after he'd grown up.
He'd watch us from the window each morning, as a rule,
and welcome us with wet kisses when we came home from school.
My Dad worked in the woods nearby, and sometimes he'd take Teddy
to chase a rabbit or squirrels and run home when he got ready.
Then, one night at suppertime, we called him all around.
We even searched the neighborhood, but our Teddy couldn't be found.
A week went by; we grieved for him, and wondered where he was.
If he was able, we were sure, he'd come back home to us.
One evening Daddy snapped his fingers and wondered, "Could it be
that I dumped off those old tires that last day Ted went with me?"
Then Daddy drove us to the woods, "This is the place," he said.
He whistled, and we heard a yelp, and bounding out came Ted.
The teardrops glistened in our eyes, for Teddy's ribs showed thru'.
He'd stood guard over Dad's old tires, but he'd gone without food, too.
We took turns holding Teddy in our arms to ease his pain,
and tempted him with tidbits until he was strong again.
Now Teddy's gone for many years, but still a teardrop gleams,
when we talk about that little dog, who taught us what loyalty means.
