Before Winter Sets In

You’ve heard of the fellow who’s travelled abroad,

Who’s mashed a fine princess and dined with a lord;

Who’s beat thrice at checkers Victoria Queen,

Who’s traversed Mt. Blanc all alone and unseen?

You know him most likely, this Knight of the Chin?

He always gets round before winter sets in.

You’ve heard of the fellow who’s hunted in Maine,

You hear him relate of the deer that he’s slain;

How he distanced his guide, slew a couple of bear,

And only escaped by the breadth of a hair?

You know him most likely, this Knight of the Chin?

He always gets round before winter sets in.

You’ve heard of the fellow who couldn’t go ‘way,

Whose mercantile value compelled him to stay;

Who’d plenty of money and wanted to go,

But saved his firm’s business by not doing so?

You know all these fellows, this trio of kin?

They always gets round before winter sets in.

Oct. 26, 1894

                             Pub. in B. Courier, Nov. 4, 1894