‘Twas Always Thus

From The Topeka State Journal, February 22, 1913.
 By Roy K. Moulton.
 

 I dwelt within a palace grand
 With hired help on every hand
 I ran the place at large expense
 The luxury was just immense.
 I lived on porterhouse and quail
 My chef knew no such word as “fail.”
 I had a splendid limousine
 A seven-passenger machine
 I also owned a racing car
 And there was not a thing to mar
 My peace of mind. I knew no toil
 I didn’t have to do a thing
 From spring to fall and fall to spring.
 I had no worry on my mind
 Or vain regret of any kind.
 My castle was a sight to see
 I had ten men to wait on me
 And when I got a bill, by heck,
 My secretary wrote a check.
 I lolled about and took my ease
 With bank notes piled up to my knees.
 Then something happened suddenly
 My wife came in the room and she
 Said as she gave my hair a jerk:
 “Wake up, you chump, and go to work.”