Fortune came to a youth one day and dressed
'im
Up in his best. While Society smiled and caressed
'im,
Along came Toil with a hammer and saw to test 'im--
And all three pressed 'im.
Manhood came, as it usually does, to bear 'im;
Virtue stole in and sat by his side, but feared 'im;
Ambition came with wonderful schemes and steered
'im--
But all three queered 'im.
Wisdom came and knocked at his door; he spurned
'im.
Frivolity came on bicycle wheels and turned 'im;
Remorse at last came up and stung 'im and burned
'im--
And all three churned 'im.
Poverty opened his door and found 'im and sought
'im;
Paralysis, crouched in a corner, had finally caught
'im;
Idleness claimed the prize because she'd taught 'im--
But all three got 'im.
Old Charon rowed up in the Time's canoe and ferried 'im
Over the creek, when an undertaker hurried 'im,
Dropped sand on his box, while a parson talked and
worried 'im--
But the whole crowd buried 'im.