Ere theatres the Law allowed,
Or seaside taverns caught the crowd,
The big Camp Meeting was the show
Where every summer we would go;
The tents all good believers had
Were waggoned to the hickory woods,
The tent poles and the circus goods
Brought out our chuckle and our bad—
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
We hear the horn a'blowing
“Behave boys, if you can.”
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
(There is a god named Pan.)

Oh, happy Jews, by day who tramp
And every evening pitch a camp
Around the lumber preaching stand,
With choirs all singing like a band;
The people, like a river,
The benches overflow,
And twenty preachers in a row
Address the goodly Giver.
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
A tree frog's in the blowing,
“Behave boys, squat you be!”
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
“A squirrel's up this tree!”

The hucksters with their cantaloupes
And watermelons past the ropes
See where the ice cream merchant slips
Two three-cent saucers for the fips.
We treat our girl, this morning known,
We blush with her at the advance;
Before the evening we could dance
If 'twer not wicked so to own—
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
“Beware or I'll among ye
My steward's cudgel bear.”
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
“A yallow jacket stung me
When I was down at prayer.”

Long tables set with cheese and ham,
Butter and biscuit, pork and lamb,
When down the benches brethren fare—
Like ten pin alleys played with prayer;
Each Church a tent and table keeps
Like the twelve tribes of Israel,
And when they ring the feeding bell
To the last sup the Bishop leaps.
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
The Millerites ascending,
“Behave boys, what a sight!”
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
“Flop down to get a bite.”

“This tent of ours is empty now,
You do love candy, I'll allow,
And when 'tis in your mouth to eat,
It almost talks, you are so sweet.
O, hear that martin bird that sings
As if it saw me look at you
And from my happiness it knew
I would, like it, have song and wings.”
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
“Is it we two he's chiding?
His business let him mind!”
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
Love is more deep than blind.

The mourners for their sins do moan,
While we no such conviction own,
But in hallucination bide,
As happy as the sanctified.
They shout “forgiven;” they sing so wild
The oak trees scared in wonder move,
While our young hearts, just told of love,
Swell in the pauses, like a child.
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
The woodlands shriek the glory,
We two hushed like the birds,
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
Still eyes are full of words.

“Night preaching's past: let us be pent
In big Asbury's crowded tent,
Set in the straw and whisper fibs
And dig each other in the ribs;
How kindly dull the whale oil lamps!
In our last row they cannot see;
Will you sometimes think nice of me,
The boy that loved you in the camps?”
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
“Behave!” “One kiss!” “Just one!”
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
“This next is just for fun!”

When all the week is o'er at last
And woods are still and camp is past,
What is left over to enjoy?
Some love of God; some love of boy.
Do they not meet when we are dead
And in high heaven the woodlands grow?
I seek the empty camp and know
There are revivals overhead.
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
My Dryad love she beckons—
Behave, old heart! you must!
Ter rump-rump-rump; ter rump!
That trump will blow, I trust!