“’T’aint long when a fellow starts hittin’ The booze till he’s gone the whole way; And then when he thinks about quittin’, He’s found that the devil’s to pay. “A woman—they’re always the reason In my case the girl was my wife; We married—were happy a season And then trouble entered my life. “The man—we’d been palin’ together Since both of us started to school; I thought that he’d stick through all weather, I trusted him—just like a fool. “He lived in my home like a brother, For months our life went like a song, And then I began to discover, That somethin’ in life had gone wrong. “I watched till I thought I detected My wife was wrapped up in his charms, Then dropped into home unexpected, And found her clasped tight in his arms. “I came in the room as she kissed him, He saw me and begged for his life; I shot at the cur, but I missed him— He ran and left me with my wife. “My—wife—God! I’d found her no better Than women who live on the street, So diff’rent than when I first met her— She screamed and fell dead at my feet. “Then somethin’ inside my brain parted Like strings on a harp stretched too tight— Doc, that was the time I got started; I changed in a minute that night. “A few of my friends have stuck by me, And assisted in lightening my load, But the way most of them would eye me; Soon caused me to hit for the road. “From city to city I’ve wandered, And month after month rolled around; What money I had I soon squandered, But nowhere was peace to be found. “Sometimes for a day I’d be cheerful, The thoughts of revenge would be still; And then my poor brain would be clear full Of him I had sworn I would kill. “Well, yesterday evenin’ I met him, He begged and he pleaded and cried For help, but I’d promised to get him— I choked the dang cur till he died. “To make the job certain I drilled him With five or six shots from my gun— I’d killed him, yes dang him, I’d killed him!— A cop came my way on the run. “I started to run to the river, Then felt a sharp pain in my breast; And fell in the street all aquiver— A bullet had gone through my chest. “There’s no use to tell you the rest, Doc, There’s nothin’ much more I can tell; I’m happy, what I did was best, Doc— They’re waitin’ for me down in hell. “It feels like the room’s gettin’ colder; It’s dark and I’m startin’ to choke, There’s somethin’ ahold of my shoulder! So long Doc, I’m—goin’—to—croak.” * * * * * Going Down Man’s life is a vapour And full of woes; He cuts a caper And down he goes, And down, and down, And down, and down, And down he goes. * * * * *