Cleon and I

From the Rock Island Argus, May 5, 1914. By Henry Howland.

Cleon hath four limousines,
    Ne’er a one have I;
Cleon fares to foreign scenes,
    Here at home stay I;
Cleon lives where servants hurry
    And the walls are high;
Cleon oft has cause to worry,
    So, alas, have I.

Twenty suits of clothes has he,
    Only one have I;
He makes money easily,
    By hard working I;
In his glass the old wine bubbles,
    Cleon likes it “dry”;
Cleon frequently has troubles,
    Ah, well, so do I.

Cleon is a millionaire,
    I work, wet or dry;
Cleon’s losing all his hair,
    Little hair have I;
Cleon oft has indigestion,
    So, indeed, have I;
What’s the difference, you question?
    This is my reply:

Cleon’s daughter has eloped
    And his son flies high;
Hopes that Cleon fondly hoped
    Have been doomed to die;
Cleon sits alone at night,
    In his breast a sigh;
My kids stay at home and fight—
    Six of them have I.