3527 W6I88*. THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES / Mammon in Verseland OR The Power of Money BY GEORGE WASHINGTON NIMS Author of "A Keepsake More Precious Than Klondike Gold," "Golden Lines of Wisdom for the Young," "Uncle Reuben s Adventures Abroad," "Nims s Humorous Question-Book," "Friendship and Home in Poetry and Song," "The De serted Farm," "Sweetheart and Wife in Poetry and Song," "Forsaken by the World," "The Quar- train Instructor of Youth," "Nims s Humo rous Epitaphs," "Mother in Poetry and Song," "Human Nature in Public and Private Life," "The Counsellor of Youth and Friend to Old- Age," "The Declining Village," etc., etc. BOSTON, MASS.: PRESS OF E. L. GRIMES COMPANY 122 PEARL STREET OOPVRIOHT -1OOS BY QKOROE W. NIK Contents PAGE There s Nothing Takes The Place Of Money 7 8 Purse Pride 8 9 If You Have Gold and Wisely Live 91011 The Blessings Gold Bestows 1112 Why Foolish Act ? 1213 No ! No ! Yes ! Yes ! You Must Have Money 1314 A Boastful Millionaire 14 16 Miserly 15 16 If I Am Pennyless Id 17 What Mammon s Power Can Do 18 The Young Act Wisely When 19 While You With Wealth Can Dine 1920 A Friend To Money Be 2021 What Mammon Cannot Do 2122 Quartrain 22 Timely Couplets 2223 Ill-Gotten Wealth 24 Laughing At Charity 26 The Mighty Dollar 2627 Now I Don t Have To Hang My Head 2728 If Principle In Place Of Money Ruled 28 Quartrain 29 Not For Money 2930 The Man Of Means 3031 Judge By Character And Not By Gold 3132 While Many Thousands You Possess. 33 The Slave To Selfishness 34 While Money Is My Friend 36 36 What Makes You Put On Airs ? 8637 No Great Loss 3788 Gold Drew The Line 3839 In The Mad Rush For Gold 3940 Spend Money Wisely 40 41 Refuse To Act Dishonestly 4142 626064 One May Be Rich 4243 The Gold-Struck Man 4344 A Mammon Dialogue 45 When I Returned A Millionaire 46 47 When Wealthy I Became 47 48 A Back Number 4849 I Love My Gold Too Wall 4950 Who Judge From The Standpoint Of Gold 6051 However Rich 51 52 Should You Some Day With Wealth Reside 6263 What Friend Can Do So Much For You ? 6364 Yes, If 55 The Love Of Gold 6656 Money And Old-Age 6768 My Greedy Heirs 6869 While You Have Money 6960 I m Called A Gentleman 6061 Tho Talented Or Not 6162 Unjustly Slighted 626364 The Model Business Man 6465 No Change In Me 66-66 The Young Do Well 66 A Touching Dialogue 67 68 Quartrains And Couplets 6869 7 THERE S NOTHING TAKES THE PLACE OF MONEY. In all your wandering thro this vale of life, In all its varied scenes of light and shade, In sunshine or in tempests wild and drear, At home or in the busy marts of trade; Upon the land or on the ocean blue, In trying times or in prosperity, In days of dark despair or seasons bright Where er your earthly dwelling-place may be You ll find there s nothing takes the place of money. Chorus : My boys, roam where you will, live where you may, However wise, however good you be; Tho you a spotless reputation boast, Or on you sweetly smiles prosperity, You ll find there s nothing takes the place of money. Tho your fair name be known the wide world o er, Tho gifted or tho clever you may be, However great, however kind and good, However brave you seem on land or sea; Tho honors or tho virtues fitly crown Your noble efforts for mankind on earth, Tho world-wide be your reputation here, Tho royal or tho humble was your birth, You ll find there s nothing takes the place of money. Tho you a Christian be or sinner vile, Tho in a city or a ville you dwell, Tho poorly or tho gaily you may dress, Tho men may wish you ill or wish you well ; 8 MAMMON IN VERSfiLAND Should glory, honor, worth and fame be yours, With every earthly boon that men hold dear, Tho all your fondest hopes be realized And all your noblest wishes blossom here, You ll find there s nothing takes the place of money. Tho every cherished want be gratified And every fond desire be granted you, Tho naught but joy and pleasure on you smile Or those you dearly love ne er prove untrue; Tho countless blessings fall upon your head And all your aspirations bud and bloom, Tho happiness and friends your journey cheer Along life s winding highway to the tomb, You ll find there s nothing takes the place of money. PURSE PRIDE. Alas! on my poor relatives To call, I never care, Because they dwell in quarters mean And often poorly fare. Because they never dress in style, Or live, lo, as they should, I think I ought to shun them e en When they are kind and good. I know not how it seems to want, For I with plenty dwell, And on my right hand and my left Friends love to wish me well. So why ought I to notice those That I look down upon, MAMMON IN VERSELANI) Who never wear tis sad to say A decent coat or gown? One must be well supplied with gold And live on a swell street, On whom I d deign to call, or e en In public warmly greet. I must uphold my dignity Tho I on justice tread, And never mingle with the poor Till I to pride am dead. Thus shall I act while I m well off How foolish it may seem E en should the wise believe my brain With folly s seeds must teem. IF YOU HAVE GOLD AND WISELY LIVE. If you have gold and wisely live, You will respected be, And thought more of than one who fights The ills of poverty;- At home abroad, lo! everywhere That money is admired, Who for its worth and mighty power To talk are never tired. If you have gold and wisely live, You can be well supplied With this world s goods and in a home With plenty blest, reside; And move in good society, 10 MAMMON IN VERSELAND Where the well-dressed appear, And be looked up to by the friends Who seem to you so dear. If you have gold and wisely live, The world will stand by you, And for your comfort and your weal Be not ashamed to do; Then dudes do bout your greatness blow And of your fortune boast, And, when tis possible, are glad To have you for a host. If you have gold and wisely live, You will be welcome everywhere The poor would strive in vain to be In mansions rich and fair; For gold makes one important feel And charms the proud and vain, Who, but for it, to plenty s courts Would not an entrance gain. If you have gold and wisely live, You can and will do good, And when it is your duty to Don kindness sunny hood; Giving to aid those objects that Uplift, reform and cheer Striving to make life s pathway seem To the oppressed less drear. If you have gold and wisely live, You ll not to self be wed, Or with the mean and miserly Desire to make your bed; MAMMON IN VERSELAND II But you will for your neighbor care Regardless of his creed And nobler feel when you have done A kind and worthy deed. THE BLESSINGS GOLD BESTOWS. The blessings gold bestows are rich And numerous, indeed, So those who never want, of life s Good things are not in need. Among its gifts are stately homes, Where wealth and culture reign, And those unknown to cruel want With cheerful plenty train. To those who love to noticed be It is no slender reed, Or a mere petty boon to one Who sows ambition s seed. Ay, influence and power it can To many freely give, And prove a factor powerful To those who wisely live. To those who are in need it can The sweets of plenty bring, And cause a life by penury cursed With cheerfulness to sing. It can misfortune s ills blot out And drive the wolf away, And cause one, whom ill-luck has marked, His honest debts to pay. MAMMON IN VE.RSELAND In all the varied walks of life It can of service be, And, as naught else on earth, the poor From hunger s grip dost free. No earthly friend one ever finds That can such blessings bring To those who have rough rows to hoe That makes life seem like spring. At home, abroad, where er one roams, No boon like gold he ll find; For what can take its place, or be To those who want so kind? WHY FOOLISH ACT? Why foolish act by envying the rich When they in mansions dwell, When they in costly coaches ride and men Delight to wish them well? Why foolish act by basely slurring one Whom fortune smiles upon, Who in the favored realm of golden wealth In affluence was born ? Why foolish act by vainly striving to Abolish wealth on earth, By leaving understanding s sunny vales To sit by folly s hearth? Why foolish act by wishing ill to one Whom mammon loves to please, Because, to play the part of gentleman, So well with him agrees? MAMMON IN VERSELAND 13 Why foolish act by hating one who can With affluence dine and sleep, When consequently you, some day, the thorns Of misery may reap ? NO! NO! YES! YES! YOU MUST HAVE MONEY. No ! no ! yes ! yes ! you must have money To live in style, to dine on honey; For if you want you re not at all More than a beggar on the mall; Men pass you by while coxcombs shun, And oft at your expense make fun; Tho you be good, upright and true, They nothing want with you to do. Chorus : No ! no ! yes ! yes ! you must have money, Tho you be humble, proud or funny, If you would o er this wide world roam, Or dwell with love and peace at home. No ! no ! yes ! yes ! you must have money If you d be always bright and sunny, If you would ever welcome be At home or in society ; To win respect where er you dwell, To hear men say, "We wish you well!" To be esteemed by those you love And courted like the good above. No! no! yes! yes! you must have money, Tho you be sober, wise or funny; 14 MAMMON IN VERSELAND If you would all your wants supply Or your ambition satisfy; If you would be a favorite And shine among the gay and bright, Say what you may, do what you will, Yes! yes! you must have money still. A BOASTFUL MILLIONAIRE. To-day I am a millionaire Of whom the world is proud, That I believe will madly weep When I have donned the shroud. Where er I go folks flatter me And think I m something great That I should be admired since I m An honor to the State. I ask no odds of any one, But dine upon the best, And in a mansion fair to view I find a bower of rest. My many wants are all supplied And pleasure is my friend, For which I often part with gold And lend a helping hand. Now I am independent, friends Are multiplying fast, Who years ago refused to bow, But by me quickly passed. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 1 5 Now I don t care what people say, Or what they think of me And never will while gold can make Me independent be. While money is the golden prize The world is struggling for, How often people backbite me I needn t care a straw. While gold is thought more of than brains, Admirers I ll ne er lack, So long as I with ample means My interests can back. The world will bow and scrape and smile, And love to favor me, While I m a man of wealth and far Removed from poverty. MISERLY. Yes, yes ! some call me miserly Because I dread to give, Or, possibly, because to save I dare to meanly live. I must confess that I am close In money matters mean, Or I with littleness, I m sure, Would not so oft be seen. When one in need on me dares call, Then I begin to shake Like one removed half-frozen from Some icy Arctic lake. l6 MAMMON IN VERSELAND Why should I give to aid the poor? What have they done for me? I live myself like one who eats The crumbs of poverty. To one who rather lose a tooth Than to part with a cent, The needy never ought to come Not even when they re sent. To selfishness I own I m wed, And hope I ll always be, For I care naught how oft the world May call me "miserly." Alas! what I am living for I own I cannot guess, But it is not because I wish My fellow-men to bless. So, when I m gone, the world will say: "Another fool is dead," And, for aught that I know, tis plain It will have wisely said. IF I AM PENNYLESS. Will servants at my bidding come Or think of my welfare, Or of me love to kindly speak And for me really care, If I am pennyless? MAMMON IN VERSELAND 17 Will my relations bow and in Me take an interest, Or, when I choose to visit them, Be called "an honored guest," When I am pennyless? Will I a member be of clubs Where gold and fashion reign, Or to the mansions of the rich An entrance quickly gain, If I am pennyless? Will I be by the well-to-do Thought something of, at least, Or in swell restaurants be seen With millionaires to feast, If I am pennyless? Will those I love and venerate Be not ashamed of me, Or wish that time would faster fly When in my company, If I am pennyless? Will I, however talented, Be flattered by the proud, Who seem to overlook the fact That they must don a shroud, If I am pennyless? Will I be held in high esteem By those who worship gold, Or must I live like homeless tramps And dine out in the cold, If I am pennyless? l8 MAMMON IN VERSELAND WHAT MAMMON S POWER CAN DO. Mammon can make it possible For fools to honored be, And cause those who from justice stray To practise bribery. It can cause weak and shallow minds To sneer at one in need, And often overwork the poor To please the love of greed. To act abusively, it can Force cold and stony hearts, Ay, on the stage of life to play Unjust and foolish parts. Many who fail to wisely live It can bankrupt and curse, And play a tyrant s part with one Who has an empty purse. | It can set men upon their feet Who dine with poverty, And cause them to exchange poor cots For mansions fair to see. E en nations it can influence And rulers basely bribe, And often twist the law to please Those on injustice side. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 1 9 THE YOUNG ACT WISELY WHEN. The young act wisely when they do Not live for empty show, But in the fields of usefulness The seeds of wisdom sow. The young do wisely act when they Dare not bow down to gold, When they have no desire to be One of oppression s fold. The young act wisely when they judge By character not wealth When they think more, ay, than of gold, Of a good name and health. The young act wisely when they do Not care or long to hoard, Or bow to greed or reckless act, To be by folly gored. WHILE YOU WITH WEALTH CAN DINE. The good things of this life are yours While you with wealth can dine, No matter where you choose to dwell, In cots or mansions fine ; You can with those who pleasure woo Know how a good time seems, And tour, lo, to your heart s content, While you have ample means. If you have a contented mind And are from sickness free, 2O MAMMON IN VERSELAND And distant roam unwelcome cares With cold adversity; You can with happiness abide And fool your time away, And recreation find among The idle and the gay. Enjoyments many may be yours, And honors not a few ; And if you good-behavior court You ll be respected, too; For what like money can make one So many friends possess? Or give so many worldly gifts To comfort, cheer and bless? While gold is plentiful with you And you .uprightly live, You can those envied blessings share That only wealth can give; And never be looked down upon Like those who want have been, But in high-toned society With millionaires be seen. A FRIEND TO MONEY BE. If you would walk in wisdom s paths And with good-sense reside, You ll never basely hoard your gold Or with a spendthrift side; But how and when you spend it you Will always careful be, If you the blessings long to share Of rich prosperity. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 21 A friend to money you will be, So long as you believe In acting well your part, and you Are not inclined to leave Discretion s company for one Who fires his scrip away That like a fool but rarely asks, "Does wasting money pay?" However large your income be, Refuse to squander it, Or to be seen in honor s courts You are, indeed, unfit; For when you throw your gold away You part with a good friend, That can in trying times to you A helping hand soon lend. Wherever you may dwell or roam, A friend to money be, While cheerful plenty you prefer To friendless poverty; While you aspire to prosperous be And with the thrifty side, And never lightly speak of gold Or mammon s power deride. WHAT MAMMON CANNOT DO. Gold never can make you beloved, Or sorrow from you keep However large your fortune be Tho you should millions reap. 22 MAMMON IN VERSELAND It cannot soften a hard heart Or make men nobly live, Or force you for the cause of truth 9 Your time and means to give. It cannot make you follow in The steps that Jesus trod, Or force an unbelieving mind To humbly worship God. It cannot make you honest act, Or force one to love you, Whom you admire, nor to fair play Compel you to be true. When death draws nigh it fails to save E en those you love the best, And helpless seems when they beneath The sod are laid to rest. So wise are they who do not say That money s "all in all," Who at the feet of mammon do Not wish too oft to fall. QUARTRAIN. Don t meanly act for mammon s sake^ Whoever you may be, But say: "I d rather be a man Than to act miserly." TIMELY COUPLETS. Wealth ne er oppresses when tis in The hands of those who dread to sin. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 23 O envy not the rich while you To sense and justice would be true! Who slurs the well-to-do may be Lo! one who ain t from folly free. One can be rich and not be mean, And with unfairness ne er be seen. t Love to instruct as well as entertain, If you would wisdom s approbation gain. A gentleman is not puffed up by gold, Since he of sense will not leave go his hold. Gold can make shallow minds like idiots act, Like one devoid of gumption, sense and tact. Think more of character, ay! than of gold, If you desire to join uprightness fold. With bribery see that you have naught to do, And daily with the truth your vows renew. No man of honor is a friend to graft, But many a fool who floats on folly s raft. Never abuse old friends for gold, Like one who has his conscience sold. Shun those who at fair dealing grin, While you would be a foe to sin. You can afford to be to graft a foe, And base corruption s seeds ne er sow. 24 MAMMON IN VERSELAND ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH. Dishonest methods never use Or smile on ill-got gain, Lest you, alas ! some hapless day Your character should stain ; While in the paths of righteousness You wish to daily tread, And to what can upbuild and bless, You would life s prospects wed. Merely to please the love of gain, Refuse to steal or cheat, While honor and fair play you prize And justice love to greet; Lest you within some prison walls A jail-bird some day be, And when too late you sigh in vain For peace and liberty. While you a conscience clear can boast And an unsullied name, You ll ne er, to please ill-gotten wealth, Your sense of honor shame; Tho you with poverty must dine And with pale want reside, You ll not allow dishonesty To be your boss and guide. So to fair dealing be a friend Where er you roam or dwell, And see that all your acts and words For worth and justice tell; Then on the safe side you ll be found With those who fairly deal, Who frown on under-handedness, And safely guard their weal. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 2$ LAUGHING AT CHARITY. Do not expect too much of one Who laughs at charity Wherever he may roam or dwell, Wherever he may be; For he cannot with goodness walk Or live as justice would, Who heartlessly can sneer at one That labors to do good. Tho in a mansion he resides, And fortune is his friend, While he to the unfortunate A hand will never lend; Tho in a garret he abides And hungry often feels, And with his fellow-men he swears He always fairly deals. On a low plane he must abide And a small soul possess, And rarely be afraid to stray From worth and righteousness; And in the dirt of meanness plays An undeserving part For he, alas ! can justly claim A cold and callous heart. No monument to him the world Will ever rear, or shed A tear, as it would for the good, When he is cold and dead ; Since he deserves to be forgot Who worships selfishness, And, like a fool, is wont to laugh At those who cheer and bless. 26 MAMMON IN VERSELAND THE MIGHTY DOLLAR. The mighty dollar I have found To be man s surest friend in need, When human friends have proved untrue A never-failing boon, indeed ; When old acquaintances deceive And those I love at me do stare, It never fails to solace me, At home, abroad, ay! everywhere. To man s most trusted earthly friend, When sick and sore on beds of pain, For nurses kind and treatment fair , I ve never, never sought in vain; t Wherever I have roamed or dwelt I ve found in it a faithful friend, In cold misfortune s darkest hours, Ready a helping hand to lend. For me, man s surest earthly friend Has never failed to win respect, So long as I have justly lived, Tho plainly or tho gaily decked ; In fashion s halls or on the green, The world has firmly stood by me, And oft my friendship kindly sought Since I ve from poverty been free. When want and trouble dragged me down, Man s surest friend soon rescued me, When I had naught, a fortune gave, Which freed me from adversity ; So I shall ne er forget this friend MAMMON IN VERSELAND 27 Or cease to prize, where er I live, The countless blessings it bestows, That gold and only gold can give. NOW I DON T HAVE TO HANG MY HEAD. Now I don t have to hang my head, As I did long ago, When seeds of want and poverty It was my lot to sow; For now I live in a fine house And plenty smiles at me, And those I love feel quite at home, Lo ! in my company. . Now I don t have to hang my head, For fortune is my friend, Who- gladly any time for me A helping hand would lend ; For I no odds of others ask, But independent be, So why- should I look sheepish when I dine with luxury? Now I don t have to hang my head, For I am looked up to, No matter where I roam or dwell, Whatever I may do; For since a fortune fell to me I m welcome everywhere At least where er I choose to call, Now I so richly fare. 28 MAMMON IN VERSELAND While money is a friend that can A human being bless; And while my bank account is large And friends about me flock, I ll look my neighbors in the face And stand as firm s a rock. IF PRINCIPLE IN PLACE OF MONEY RULED. If principle in place of money ruled, Alas! what startling changes men would see, How many now who in fair mansions dwell Would quickly fall upon the bended knee. If fortune never smiled but on the just, And life s good things could ne er be purchased by The godless workers of iniquity, Who fortunes often gain thro methods sly! If only to the good wealth chose to bow, To those who follow after righteousness, How many now would leave their palace homes Who live like kings and elegantly dress; How many now who sleep in unmarked graves Would honored be with monuments sublime, If principle in place of money ruled In this wide world so full of guilt and crime! How many now would hang their heads for shame If only character would diamonds buy, If justice only fame and honor won, Who carry now their haughty heads so high ; If only worth and strict integrity Would affluence and earthly treasure win, If at the righteous only gold would smile And never on the followers of sin ! MAMMON IN VERSELAND 29 QUARTRAIN. Not all whom fortune favors most Are fond of doing good, Or long to play a noble part In life, as goodness would. NOT FOR MONEY. For money, never dare to steal While justice you revere, And honesty and righteousness To you seem fondly dear; Tho want should stare you in the face, Be honest night and day, E en when the pangs of hunger gnaw Remember, it will pay. For money, never falsify While truth to you seems dear, Whilst right and honor you esteem And to act meanly, fear; While you abhor deceitfulness And by fair-dealing stand, And you can justly say that you Belong to frankness band. For money, ne er a fellow-man E en wish or dare to slay, So long as you would wisely live And with the upright stay ; While needlessly you do not wish A good name to disgrace, And base temptations any time Are not afraid to face. 3O MAMMON IN VERSELAND For money, never mar your name Or awful deeds commit, So long as you in goodness courts Be one who loves to sit; While you in nobleness believe And that right-living pays, And you the good would gladly crown- With honor s cherished bays. For money, never proudly act Or put on silly airs, Nor look down on a fellow-man Who faded garments wears; So long as you would nobly act And with good-sense abide, While you with what pertains to gold Would with uprightness side. THE MAN OF MEANS. Who is so welcome anywhere That men are wont to stray, Or looked up to so oft of whom Folks have so much to say, Ay! as the man of means? In cities or in country towns, Wherever you may be, At home, or far away, who do Men love so well to see Ay! as the man of means? Even in church and Sunday-school, Who can you hope to find MAMMON IN VERSELAND 3! Whose presence is so much desired, Tho homespun or refined, Ay! as the man of means? In good society to-day, Who is so entertained, Or talked so pleasantly about As those who ve fortunes gained, Ay! as the man of means? Who is so envied now, when gold Is thought more of than God, By those who flatter fortune s sons And to the prosperous nod, Ay! as the man of means? Who can so much of pleasure see, Or be so oft admired By those who in the company Of wealth are never tired, Ay! as the man of means? Who can so independent feel, Or hold the head so high, Or boast so many anxious heirs Who long to have him die, Ay! as the man of means? JUDGE BY CHARACTER AND NOT BY GOLD. If you would please the wise and good And far from folly stray, And on the stage of life a part Worth acting nobly play, Then judge by character and not by gold. 32 MAMMON IN VERSELAND If you would sense and reason please And nobleness applaud, And never, never wish to be Where error oft has trod, Then judge by character and not by gold. If you would righteousness uphold And in fair play believe, And thro your foolish actions ne er The heart of honor grieve, Then judge by character and not by gold. If you dread to misjudge a friend, Or would the good will gain Of those who can act sensibly And not their honor stain, /Then judge by character and not by gold. If you would not unfairly act Or wrongfully accuse, Or needlessly the poor ill-treat, Or decency abuse, Then judge by character and not by gold. If you with Jesus long to walk, And on injustice frown, And in an under-handed way Would ne er a brother down, Then judge by character and not by gold. If you would act impartially And none desire to wrong, And to the order of fair play Wish always to belong, Then judge by character and not by gold. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 33 WHILE MANY THOUSANDS YOU POSSESS. You never will be called a "tramp" Or a "poor, worthless thing," By those, alas ! who judge by gold Or songs of penury sing, While many thousands you possess. You never will be forced to beg Or hunger often feel, But rather with the well-to-do At plenty s altars kneel, While many thousands you possess. Want never will discourage you Or make life drearier seem, Or in the stilly hours of night Bid you of misery dream, While many thousands you possess. Then you ll be thought more of than one That want compels to beg, Who in the shoes of poverty Knows how to drive a peg, While many thousands you possess. However just and good one be Tis sad to say, yet true If he is poor or oft in want, The world will prefer you, While many thousands you possess. For gold is the "great thing" to-day That mankind love so well, So you will rarely want for friends Wherever you may dwell, While many thousands you possess. 34 MAMMON IN VERSELAND THE SLAVE TO SELFISHNESS. I never give away my gold, Or do a generous deed To benefit a fellow-man, Or aid a friend in need ; So, while I live for "number one," Why should I kindly act While I had rather hoard than give And I m by meanness backed? By gosh! the brotherhood of man I care no more about Than misers do of those in need There s not the slightest doubt; To benefit another, why Should I give gold away, That I have labored hard to earn My needful bills to pay? Of others weal I seldom think Or how they daily fare, Because, I m willing to confess, For them I never care; For I am wed to selfishness, And live for self alone, Possessing an unfeeling heart, As cold as any stone. When I am dead and gone, the world Will not feel very bad, I guess, but those who labor to Do good ought to be glad; For why should others madly weep, Or deeply feel for me, Who in a selfish life believed And frowned on charity? MAMMON IN VERSELAND 35 WHILE MONEY IS MY FRIEND. I can afford to happy feel And I confess I do Now health and cheerfulness are mine, And I m to goodness true, While money is my friend. Acquaintances to me bow low And love to sweetly smile, And never lose a chance with me A leisure hour to while, While money is my friend. Now those I long have known, delight To quickly notice me, And never fail, no matter where, To treat me civily, While money is my friend. Now I can dine, lo, on the best, I m welcome everywhere, For I can well afford I m sure To sumptuously fare, While money is my friend. Now I can fashionably dress And live in mansions fine, And with the rich and prosperous At luxury s tables dine, While money is my friend. By want I ll never be annoyed, But luxury will cheer 36 MAMMON IN VERSELAND And beautify my home, and make It seem to me more dear, While money is my friend. Do what I will, talk as I wish, I can hold high my head, And blessings numberless enjoy And be to plenty wed, While money is my friend. WHAT MAKES YOU PUT ON AIRS? [A Dialogue.] Sam What makes you put on airs and strut Like one who walks in folly s rut? Bill Because with gold I m well supplied, And I with plenty now reside. Sam What makes you hold your head so high When on the street you pass me by? Bill Because a fortune fell to me When you was whaling on the sea. Sam We used to be good friends, you know, Tho I had a hard row to hoe. Bill There is a line between us now A line to which the wealthy bow. Sam Not every one gold can puff up, For some with wisdom love to sup. Bill Alas ! to please the world to-day, Those who have gold must court display. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 37 Sam Better to act as wisdom would, And to your fellow-men do good. Bill I m selfishly inclined, you know, So kindness seeds I dread to sow. Sam You need not put on airs to please The vain or fall down on your knees. Bill I rather show off than to live As goodness would and freely give. Sam You can old friends treat civilly, And from the haunts of meanness flee. Bill Above the poor I feel to-day, Now I from want am far away. Sam What can you gain by acting so? I fail to see I d like to know? Bill Lo! by the slaves to gold, I ll be More highly spoken of you see. NO GREAT LOSS. In Westmoreland, there used to live A funny kind of man, Who loved to haggle o er a cent, As none but misers can. A man who dearly loved to hoard And play the miser s part; For he, alas! tis sad to say Possessed a stony heart. 38 MAMMON IN VERSELAND He was a Reuben widely known And one but few esteemed His mind with tricks and schemes to save, Alas! so thickly teemed. Gold was the idol of his heart The only friend he had So when he had a bill to pay It made him very mad. One stormy night to his abode, A heartless robber came, When he was fast asleep for he Was there, of course, for game. . When he d at length an entrance gained And stood close by his bed, Rube suddenly awoke and then, Alas! from fright fell dead. No flags were flying at half-mast And why, alas! should they, When he would like a bull-dog growl When he d a bill to pay? Now what do people say who knew That he was ne er so cross As when he had to spend a cent "His death was no great loss." GOLD DREW THE LINE. Between the rich and poor gold drew the line That s never been erased, And in the realm of wealth e en stands by those Who have their names disgraced. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 39 Only the gifted have this line o erleapt, When bright their talents shone; When they illustrious names could boast well-known In every clime and zone. While fools believe that money makes a man, This line must still remain, And he who may think otherwise, to see A change, will hope in vain. Till mankind on a higher plane shall dwell, Who can this line erase, While pride and vanity and thirst for gold Cling to the human race? IN THE MAD RUSH FOR GOLD. In this enlightened age of ours, How oft in pain we read Of sad and touching scenes which make The heart of justice bleed Upon the battle-fields of life, So pitiless and cold, Where oft we find a brother slain In the mad rush for gold ! In this commercial age of greed, What sights now meet our gaze! What spectacles so sad to view In these progressive days, When men and women, stricken down, Are left out in the cold By some whom fortune smiles upon In the mad rush for gold! 4O MAMMON IN VERSELAtfD When men think more of gold than God, Injustice brighter blooms, While in the church-yards of the land More numerous grow the tombs ; When men for earthly riches fight And daily grow more bold, Why wonder that the weak are slain In the mad rush for gold! While gold is worshiped night and day By those who love success, By one who dreams of mansions fair, Of luxury and dress ; Why wonder, friends of truth and right, Cause many a conscience s sold, Cause many a life is sacrificed In the mad rush for gold ! SPEND MONEY WISELY. Spend money wisely, if you wish To do as wisdom would, While you desire to daily tread The paths trod by the good. Spend money wisely, if you would Not play the part of fool, While you, alas! would not belong To penury s ragged school. Spend money wisely, if you would Some day be well-to-do, If you to wise discretion would Be always just and true. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 4! Spend money wisely, while you dread To sup with poverty, While you with want and recklessness Have no desire to be. Spend money wisely, while you know It is a friend, indeed, While you see what it can do for One in the hour of need. Spend money wisely, lest you lose What none can do without, And, at those who must saving be, Refuse to grin or pout. Spend money wisely, if you would Be one who looks ahead, While you are one who ponders what Has been by wisdom said. Spend money wisely, lest you reap The ills of recklessness, Or plenty and prosperity Your lot may never bless. REFUSE TO ACT DISHONESTLY. Refuse to act dishonestly, However poor you be, Tho you be forced to dwell with want And sup with poverty. Refuse to act dishonestly, In order to win gold, While you would be of those who feel At home in justice fold. 42 MAMMON IN VERSELAND Refuse to act dishonestly While honor you revere, So long as what ennobles man To you seems doubly dear. Refuse to act dishonestly While punishment you dread, And with the upright and the good You love to daily tread. Refuse to act dishonestly While mother s name you love, And meanness under-handed ways Are wont to feel above. Refuse to act dishonestly, Lest you your good name crock, If you would out of trouble keep And not right-living shock. Refuse to act dishonestly Because you would be rich, And never low your love of gold Your conscience to bewitch. Refuse to act dishonestly, And never wish to steal, But at the shrine of righteousness Be seen to daily kneel. ONE MAY BE RICH. One may be rich and harbor pride, And look down on the poor, When his unfeeling heart is foul s A city s slimy sewer. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 43 One may be rich and meanly grin At the unfortunate, And oft, alas ! be seen to knock At meanness dingy gate. One may be rich and know how to The part of tyrant play, And from the paths of righteousness Be prone to widely stray. One may be rich and worship greed, And miserly become, And rarely wish to music make On kindness cheery drum. One may be rich and fail to be Esteemed and honored by Those who uprightly walk in life That to live nobly try. One may be rich and oft oppress Those whom they ought to aid, And play an under-handed part, Lo! in the marts of trade. THE GOLD-STRUCK MAN. The gold-struck man thinks more of gold Than of aught else on earth, Because, alas ! it seems to him Of such intrinsic worth; No matter where he roves or dwells He loves to think of it, And hopes twill be his lot some day With millionaires to sit. 44 MAMMON IN VERSELAND The gold-struck man can loudly talk When money is the theme, And when twill boom his interests He even dares to scream; For he will not deny that gold Seems precious to his heart, That he is never pleased when from It he is forced to part. The gold-struck man dost sweetest smile When money he is making, When large amounts tis noised about That he is daily taking; For he was taught in early youth That money is the prize Which one must win if he desires Some day in life to rise. The gold-struck man thinks less of one Who has no faculty For coining gold, and who from want Is rarely ever free; But loudly lauds those who know how To dollars quickly make Since to naught else on mother earth Is he so wide awake. The gold-struck man gets all he can And growls when asked to give, Because, on a low plane for gold, He s not ashamed to live; So thus it is, and ever ll be, While he dares idolize What perishes, and ignores God, Whom he should higher prize. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 45 A MAMMON DIALOGUE. Churchill O Reuben ! don t you wish that you From want was wholly free, So you might dine upon the best And dress in style like me? Since fortune on me wealth bestowed I live like a proud king, And do about s I please, and feel As bright s a bird in spring. Reuben No, no! I much prefer to simply live And to act sensibly, Than to seem like a butterfly, Tho want should bother me. Not all are rich some will be poor So I ll not hang my head, E en tho necessity should make Me beg a loaf of bread. Churchill What can like money puff one up, Or make him prouder feel? So don t blame me because I choose With vanity to kneel ; Because the seeds of foolishness I am inclined to sow, E en if I spend my gold to please The love of useless show. Reuben What do you care for me? So what I think or dare to say Would soon forgotten be by those Who with the haughty stray ; For those who great possessions own Upon the poor look down, And, in the pools of selfishness Their nobler natures drown. 46 MAMMON IN VERSELAND WHEN I RETURNED A MILLIONAIRE. Where I in childhood used to play And flowers bloomed so bright and gay, In a fair village, de9r to me, Where I in childhood loved to be; Oh! what a welcome I received That pleased me like a hawthorn, leaved, When I returned a millionaire. How those who once had slighted me And often shunned my company, When in a humble cot I dwelt And I sometimes with penury knelt. Did shake my hands and sweetly smile And with me loved the time to while, When I returned a millionaire. Of come account they thought me then A prize among the "upper ten" For there was naught too good for me And none who shunned my company, As I was then a favorite With whom the proudest strove to sit, When I returned a millionaire. They could not do enough for me, Or seek too oft my company, For they had never dreamed that I Up mammon s mount would climb so high ; So they were pleased to show me how They could to wealth politely bow, When I returned a millionaire. I never can too grateful feel To those who catered to my weal, MAMMON IN VERSELAND 47 When in the ville my boyhood knew Again its vales I wandered through ; Dining once more with friends of old Who loved to brag about my gold, When I returned a millionaire. WHEN WEALTHY I BECAME. When wealthy I became, the world Was pleased to notice me, And sweetly smiled as cheery babes In tender infancy. Acquaintances who passed me by When I was poor in gold, Politely bowed, as I, at last, Was one of fortune s fold. Then I was looked up to by those Who shunned my company When I among the needy dwelt And dined with poverty. Then friends began to multiply, To love and flatter me, To wish me well and hope my days From trouble would be free. When I owned a fine residence And could in style appear, Then some, who used to grin, e en dared To call me "Lucky Dear." Of some account I then was thought, For mammon was my friend, Who could and promptly did to me Gold s richest blessings bring, 48 MAMMON IN VERSELAND Life s good things then I did enjoy, And oft with sunshine strayed, And in my "coach-and-four" rode by Where I in childhood played. For what like mammon s shining gold Can set one on his feet, Or makes him quicker noticed be By those he loves to greet? A BACK NUMBER. Yes! a "back number" you ll be called No matter where you dwell If what you aim to do in life Doth not for mammon tell ; If in the busy marts of trade To make a mark you fail, If you are forced to advertise Your store and stock for sale. Yes! a "back number" you ll be called If you no knack possess For making money, and you are Obliged to poorly dress ; If tis, lo, in the business world Your lot to lag behind, While you how hard you strive the path To fortune never find. Yes ! a "back number" you ll be called As soon as it is known That you but little money earn But then don t sigh and moan; MAMMON IN VERSELAND 49 While you no progress make, the world Don t seem to care for you, While you know what it is to want No matter what you do. Yes ! a "back number" you ll be called Wherever you may roam, While you with those whom ill-luck damns Are forced to find a home ; If you, in life, to prosper, fail, And far from plenty stray, While you pursue some calling that The world declares, "don t pay." I LOVE MY GOLD TOO WELL. To-day "a rich man" I am called, But not a generous one, For I believe in being snug, E en though it causes fun ; For why should I to others give Outside my family? What profit I would gain thereby I strive in vain to see. I think more of my pocket-book Than of a man in need, So why ought I to kindly act Or the half-starved to feed? I don t care what the public says, It matters not to me, So long as I am justified, Lo, from a tramp to flee. On saving I am so intent How could I dare to give, When I am ready to confess 5O MAMMON IN VERSELAND That I like misers live? For when I have to spend a cent I like a toper shake, And feel as though I d like to leap Into an icy lake. So friends, should I die suddenly, Remember what I say, I love my gold too well to give E en a few cents away ; For I believe in getting all I can and hoarding it E en though among the niggardly It be my lot to sit. WHO JUDGE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF GOLD. Who judge from the standpoint of gold With pride have much to do, And to the rules of decency Know how to prove untrue; For they should judge one s character And not his bank account, If they dare hope to drink some day From reason s crystal fount. Who judge from the standpoint of gold From justice often stray, And in the haunts of righteousness Are rarely known to stay; For mammon is the god they love, That they delight to praise, While they, alas, with eager eyes On golden dollars gaze. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 51 Who judge from the standpoint of gold Have much to answer for, When in behalf of heartless greed They dare to madly war; When the oppressed, for mammon s sake, They love to bleed and grind, And in their soul-degrading work Do joy and pleasure find. Who judge from the standpoint of gold Know how to meanly act, Because, alas ! they ne er have been By right and honor backed ; Because tis character they ought To judge and not one s gold; Because tis plainly to be seen They are to mammon sold. HOWEVER RICH. However rich, you can be good, And talk and act as wisdom would ; Tho countless thousands you possess, You can your fellow beings bless. However rich, you can refrain From causing others needless pain, And live a life worth living here, And to your friends your name endear. However rich, you need not be One who makes light of poverty, Or worship at the shrine of greed, Nor, to please gain, your neighbors bleed. 52 MAMMON IN VERSELAND However rich, you can shun pride, And o er your neighbors never ride ; And, if you will, a good life lead, Arid kindness precepts daily heed. However rich, you can be just, And in your heavenly Father trust, So long as you would nobly walk And justice progress never balk. However rich, do not oppress, But follow after righteousness, And in the ranks of those be found Who never do the homeless hound. However rich, you can sow seeds That kindness loves and do good deeds ; And those whose lot in life is drear Be not ashamed to bless and cheer. However rich, you can refuse The weak and friendless to abuse, Or on the public to impose As he who fairly judges knows. SHOULD YOU SOME DAY WITH WEALTH RESIDE. Should you some day with wealth reside, Be careful how you act, If you would be a friend to worth, To principle and tact. Should you some day with wealth reside On pride of gold look down, And on the whims of vanity Be not afraid to frown. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 53 Should you some day with wealth reside, Do not act miserly, And when you ought to kindly act Have no desire to flee. Should you some day With wealth reside, Strive to act sensibly, And from vain fads and foolishness Wish to be wholly free. Should you some day with wealth reside, A part worth acting play, And on the stage of life with those Who walk uprightly, stray. Should you some day with wealth reside, Be on the side of right, And ne er your fellow-men oppress, Or stray from justice sight. Should you some day with wealth reside, With one and all be fair, While right and honor you esteem, And to be honest, dare. Should you some day with wealth reside, Be not in touch with greed, But good advice from righteousness Be not ashamed to heed. WHAT FRIEND CAN DO SO MUCH FOR YOU? What friend, can do so much for you As mammon when in need, When pennyless and none for you 54 MAMMON IN VERSELAND Will do a kindly deed; When you are homeless and despised By those who judge by gold, When sad misfortune forces you To sleep out in the cold? What friend can do so much for you When you have debts to pay, And creditors are cross, and you Know not, to turn, which way ; When sickness comes and you are shunned And left, perhaps, to die, When you forgotten by the world, With poverty dost lie? What friend can do so much for you, Should you in business fail, Or what can fill its place when you A pauper s lot bewail; What can make you esteemed again, Or set you on your feet, Or cause the. world to bow and smile Like friends you used to greet? What friend can make you sweeter smile, Or bow so oft to you, Or to your interests cause friends To be so just and true ; And, when at last to death you bow, And you have said "good-bye," What can for your remains so grand A mausoleum buy? MAMMON IN VERSELAND 55 YES, IF. If you in life fail to succeed When scrambling after gold, Don t be surprised when you some day Are left out in the cold. If you in money-making fail, The world will pass you by, And think you as important, lo! As a down-hearted fly. If you a dollar rarely see, Who then dost care for you? The proud and prosperous? oh, no! A very, very few. If you for want of means are forced To in the background keep, Who cares among the slaves to gold. Tho you with squalor sleep? If you are good, or otherwise No matter what you do While you but little money earn The world don t care for you. Couplet. Of fortune s sons why envious be, While you wish to act sensibly? THE LOVE OF GOLD. The love of gold can cause one to A fellow being slay, And coax him from the paths of right 56 MAMMON IN VERSELAND To wander far away; Unless he treads in Jesus steps And with the upright walks, Or in the spotless chairs of right And honor daily rocks. The love of gold can cause one to Look down on charity, And even force his callous heart To become miserly; And even ruin one s character And mar a worthy name, And to a bright and cheery home Bring trouble, hate and shame. The love of gold can cause one to A tyrant s part play well, And force dishonest men, for gain, Their souls to meanness sell; Since naught can make the greedy act, Alas! so heartlessly Toward those who are obliged to toil And battle poverty. The love of gold, when wed to pride, Can slight the wise and good, If they are poor and rarely act As right and goodness would; For none can more absurdly act Than one whom gold puffs up, Who with the vain and foppish few Is often seen to sup. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 57 MONEY AND OLD-AGE. If you are old and wealthy, too. The world for you will care, And seek your company so long As you do richly fare; For money makes the aged seem More pleasing to the eye, When they have much of this world s goods For what so many. sigh. If you are old and wealthy, too, You ll ne er neglected be By those who love to flatter gold And sneer at poverty ; But you will have a welcome warm Wherever you may go, While money is the thing the world Esteems the most, you know. If you are old and wealthy, too, The world will bow to you, And in your pathway, night and day, The seeds of flattery strew; For then you are of some account, Your neighbors love to think, Whom from the bitter fount of greed Are not ashamed to drink. If you are old and wealthy, too, Your friends will sweetly smile, And love with you whene er they can, An idle hour to while ; 58 MAMMON IN VERSELAND And never call you "burdensome," But on you gladly wait, And toward you civil act, like one Who knocks at justice gate. MY GREEDY HEIRS. Now I am dead and gone, I hope My heirs are satisfied, Since they declared, long ere I did, "He should have sooner died," As they thought more about my gold Than they e er did of me, Tho they my smiling countenance Seemed always glad to see. My greedy heirs are feasting now On what I labored for From early morn till late at night, When trying days I saw, And laughing in their sleeves, because At last I m out of sight As I should be since I on earth Was very, very tight. The poor are better off, I think, Tho some wish they were dead, When they with poverty are forced To daily make their bed ; So my gold-loving heirs, I m sure, Will not mourn long for me, But rather loudly celebrate I was so miserly. I was so very close on earth I might as well be here, MAMMON IN VERSELAND 59 For whom, I now believe, my heirs Have never shed a tear; And why should they, I d like to know, When they longed for my death, While night and day they hoped and prayed That I would lose my breath? WHILE YOU HAVE MONEY. You never need to friendless be, Or shake the hand of poverty, While you have money. You can with plenty always dine And clothing wear that s rich and fine, While you have money. You can sometimes with gold be free And give to aid humanity, While you have money. You can a stranger be to debt And shining greenbacks often pet, While you have money. You can in your own home abide And with the prosperous daily ride, While you have money. You can be thought more of than one Who never saw prosperity s sun, While you have money. You can for worthy objects give, And in the haunts of affluence live, While you have money. 60 MAMMON IN VERSELAND You can be flattered and admired Till you of foolishness are tired, While you have money. You can the innocent betray And lure them from the right away. While you have money, You can the cause of goodness aid And be a power in marts of trade, While you have money. You can oppress or justice woo, Or widely seeds of kindness strew, While you have money. I M CALLED A GENTLEMAN. Because I great possessions own And in a mansion dwell, Because I fashionably dress And look so very swell, I m called "a gentleman." While I in costly coaches ride With multi-millionaires, And I can chum and feast with one Who always richly fares, I m called "a gentleman." While fortune on me sweetly smiles, And I am living on The interest of my gold, and I Can blow on plenty s horn, I m called "a gentleman." MAMMON IN VERSELAND 6 1 E en when I do not live and act As right and honor would, E en when tis known that I dislike To labor to do good, I m called "a gentleman." When I from goodness paths depart And sneer at honesty, While I can like a monarch live E en then by some, by gee ! I m called "a gentleman." But, oh ! if e er my fortune flees, And I my bills can t pay, Then, truthfully, I must confess, I could no longer say, I m called "a gentleman." THO TALENTED OR NOT. Tho talented or not, if you Among the needy dwell, But few among your fellow-men Will stop to wish you well ; When keenly pierce the pangs of want But few will notice you, But rather wish your humble name On earth they never knew. Tho talented or not, if you No influence possess, If you are poor in this world s goods Tho rich in righteousness, But few will stoop to notice you, 62 MAMMON IN VERSELAND Unless to meanly grin At your expense, and often swear That "poverty is sin." Tho talented or not, but few Will lend a helping hand If you, alas ! belong to sad Misfortune s luckless band ; While fortune frowns upon your lot And you re unknown to fame, But few, indeed, will notice you, Tho spotless be your name. Tho talented or not, if you Are cursed by penury, Friends will be few, so long as you Know not prosperity; So long as you are poorly dressed But few will bow to you, No matter what your talents are No matter what you do. UNJUSTLY SLIGHTED. [A Dialogue.] John Why do you never visit me Or wish your friend of old to see? Charles Because you dress so shabbily And dine so oft with poverty. John Why do you slight me everywhere And never think of my welfare? Charles Because, like me, you cannot show A bank account as you well know. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 63 John When I was well-to-do, you shook My hand and in my face would look. Charles When you had gold, I must admit, With you I want ashamed to sit. John When I had gold and could in style Appear, at me you loved to smile. Charles This solemn fact I can t deny, For then I bowed when we passed by. John Then in my company you felt At home and with me kindly dealt. Charles Well, you are poor enough to-day To make me wish you far away. John By gold and style you judge, I see, And not as goodness, righteously. Charles I m like the world that loves to slight The poor though it be wrong or right. John The world lauds those who wealth possess And in the height of fashion dress. Charles I can t deny what you have said, Because, by pride, I own I m led. John Tis pride of gold that makes you slight One who would for your welfare fight. Charles Ay, ay! this is the real cause That makes me tread on justice laws. 64 MAMMON IN VERSELAND John If I was well supplied with gold I would not be out in the cold. Charles Then I would quickly call on you And to your interests be true. THE MODEL BUSINESS MAN. [From the moral standpoint.] The model business man is one Who stands by honesty In sunshine and in storm, and from The right would never flee ; Who ne er becomes a slave to greed Nor blindly worships gold, But lives like one who has for gain His conscience never sold. Who is a foe to shameless graft, Wherever he may dwell, Whose actions night and day for truth And justice wisely tell, Refusing to be bribed how rich, How great the briber be, But daily walking in the steps Of those from meanness free. Who never dares to basely steal, Or to misrepresent, Nor e en the rich or poor, out of A cent, would ever cheat ; Whose word can be depended on In dark or sunny hours Whose honest methods none condemn- On whom fall justice showers. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 65 Who never takes advantage of Or others dare oppress, But to fair-dealing is a friend That stands by righteousness; Who daily strives to justly live, As worth and honor would, And never longs to wander from The worthy and the good. NO CHANGE IN ME. Now fortune at me sweetly smiles And I with wealth can dine, And easily a banker s check For thousands quickly sign ; No change in me, my neighbors say, Has come in consequence, Since I have in a mansion dwelt And called on wealthy gents ; For why should gold cause me to slight The friends I used to know, And, consequently, cause me to The seeds of folly sow? So I shall not unjustly act And play the part of fool, Till I forget what I once learned In wise instruction s school. Why should I change for mammon s sake, As shallow minds have done, And for those who have better sense An object be for fun, When I was wiser taught at home 66 MAMMON IN VERSELAND By one I dearly prize, Whose hallowed memory to my heart Is bound by filial ties ? However wealthy I become I ll not old friends e er slight So long as I shall wisely act And battle for the right; While I am not a slave to pride, To gold and foolishness, While I my fellow-men, than harm, Had rather cheer and bless. THE YOUNG DO WELL. The young do well when they refuse To squander gold, When they shun those who have their souls To mammon sold. The young do well when they would not Act niggardly, When they on saving are intent That they may prosperous be. The young do well who see that gold Don t puff them up, When they act sensibly and quaff From wisdom s cup. The young do well, indeed, when they For others feel, When they for gold refuse to lie, To cheat and steal. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 67 A TOUCHING DIALOGUE. Tom We used to play together, Ben, In childhood long ago, In a fair country town, where pinks And daisies grow. Ben Oh, yes! I know full well we did, And pleasant days were spent Where nature s charms can bless and cheer And we were quite content. Tom Tis true, indeed, we were quite pleased To live a simple life, For we were happy strangers then To greed s unrighteous strife. Ben We thought of play, and not of gold, Of having a good time, When in our purses we could not E en find a silver dime. Tom Years, memory loves to cherish so, Passed rapidly away, And now to-day one ne er would think I used with you to play. Ben Tis true, those golden days have passed And we no longer meet On the same level, or e en bow When passing on the street. 68 MAMMON IN VERSELANU Tom To-day the world is wont to judge One by his gold and style, So, should you speak to one so poor It might provoke a smile. Ben An old friend I dislike to slight, But gold makes me feel proud, So, I suppose there ll be no change Till I have donned the shroud. Couplet. Purse-pride is not in touch with common sense, Nor longs to climb o er understanding s fence. QUARTRAIN. Who slights the worthy to Please pride of gold, Deserves some day to sleep Out in the cold. QUARTRAIN. How gold can puff the empty-minded up And cause a fool to boast, And stimulate the simpletons who cruise Along vain folly s coast! Couplet. One may make money and disgrace his name, And recklessly his friends and neighbors shame. MAMMON IN VERSELAND 69 Couplet. Who, but a fool, admires a summer friend, Or would to him their purses gladly lend? Couplet. Money can seeds of hatred sow, And cause men to strike a death blow. QUARTRAIN. Money can force rich relatives At their poor kin to grin, Thus forcing them against their will To be in touch with sin. QUARTRAIN. One can be rich and kindly seem, Or poor and selfish act, Or those who wisely live are not In touch with right and tact. Couplet. Not all who wed for gold find happiness, Or those who grind the poor the lowly bless. Quartrains. Not all whom fortune favors most Are fond of doing good, Or long to play a noble part In life as goodness would. 7O MAMMON IN VERSELAND Far from dishonesty reside And never dare to cheat, If you in goodness fields, than tares. Had rather garner wheat. To aid the interests of sin Your gold refuse to give, While you with those who wisely walk Desire to daily live. Couplet. Beware of those who never give, If you desire to nobly live. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. MUD Form L9-42m-8, 49(B5573)444 THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF C \UFORNIA LOS ANGELES A 000 928 029 8