Produced by Anne Storer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) "EXCELSIOR" BY Bret Harte PRESENTED BY ENOCH MORGAN'S SONS CO. NEW YORK. * * * * * [Illustration] The shades of night were falling fast, As through an Eastern village passed A youth who bore, through dust and heat, A stencil-plate, that read complete--"SAPOLIO." [Illustration] CLEAN PAINT, OIL CLOTHS, FLOORS, WOOD WORK, TABLES & SHELVES _WITH SAPOLIO._ [Illustration] His brow was sad, but underneath, White with "Odonto" shone his teeth, And through them hissed the words, "Well, blow Me tight if here is 'ary show!" "SAPOLIO." [Illustration] WASH DISHES, PORCELAIN, CHINA & GLASS WARE _WITH SAPOLIO._ [Illustration] On household fences, gleaming bright, Shone "Gargling Oil," in black and white, Once "Bixby's Blacking" stood alone, He straight beside it clapped his own--"SAPOLIO." [Illustration] POLISH MILK CANS & PANS AND ALL KINDS OF TIN WARE _WITH SAPOLIO._ [Illustration] "Try not my fence," the old man said, "With 'Mustang Liniment' 'tis spread, Another vacant spot thar aint." He answered with a dash of paint--"SAPOLIO." [Illustration] CLEAN STEEL KNIVES & FORKS AND ALL METALLIC TOOLS AND UTENSILS _WITH SAPOLIO._ [Illustration] "O, stay," the maiden said, "A rest Pray give us! What with 'Bixby's Best,' And 'Simmons' Pills,' we're like to die." He only answered, "Will you try--SAPOLIO?" [Illustration] CLEAN BATH TUBS, WASH BASINS AND SINKS _WITH SAPOLIO._ [Illustration] "Beware them peaks! That wall so bright Is but a snow bank, gleaming white, Your paint wont stick!" Came the reply, "I've done it! 'How is that for high?'" "SAPOLIO." [Illustration] SCOUR POTS, KETTLES, PANS & ALL BRASS & COPPER UTENSILS _WITH SAPOLIO._ [Illustration] One Sabbath morn, as heavenward White Mountain tourists slowly spurred, On ev'ry rock, to their dismay, They read that legend strange, alway--"SAPOLIO" [Illustration] CLEAN GLASS WARE, WINDOWS, PORCELAIN & CHINA WARES _WITH SAPOLIO._ [Illustration] There on the summit, old and fat, Shameless, but vigorous, he sat, While on their luggage as they passed, He checked that word, from first to last, "SAPOLIO." [Illustration] CLEAN MARBLE TABLES, FLOORS, STATUARY AND HARD FINISHED WALLS _WITH SAPOLIO._