"'Twas a balmy summer evening, and a goodly  crowd was there
Which well nigh filled Joe's bar-room, on the   corner by the square;
And as the songs and witty stories came through the open door,
A vagabond crept slowly in and posed upon the floor.

"Where did it come from?" someone said "The wind has blown it in."
"What does it want?" another cried, "Some whiskey rum or gin?"
"Here, Toby, sic 'em, if you're equal to thework,
I wouldn't touch him with a fork, he's filthy  as a Turk."

This badinage, the poor wretch took with stoical good grace;
In fact he smiled as though he thought he'd struck the proper place.
"Come, boys, I know there's kindly hearts among so good a crowd---
To be in such good company would make a deacon proud.

"Give me a drink, that's what I want--I'm out of funds, you know,
When I had cash to treat the gang this hand was never slow.
What? You laugh as if you thought this pocket never held a sou;
I once was fixed as well, my boys, as any one of you.

"There, thanks, that's braced me nicely; God bless you one and all;
Next time I pass this good saloon I'll make another call.
Give you a song? No, I can't do that; my  singing days are past;
My voice is cracked, my throat's worn out, and  my lungs are going fast.

"I'll tell you a funny story, and a fact, I  promise, too.
Say! Give me another whiskey, and I'll tell you what I'll do---
That I was ever a decent man not one of you  would think;
But I was, some four or five years back. Say  give me another drink!

"Fill her up, Joe, I want to put some life into  my frame--
Such little drinks to a bum like me are  miserably tame;
Five fingers--there, that's the scheme--and  corking whiskey, too.
Well, here's luck, boys, and landlord, my best            regards to you.

"You've treated me pretty kindly and I'd like  to tell you how
I came to be the dirty sot you see before you  now.
As I told you, once I was a man, with muscle, frame and health,
And but for a blunder ought to have made considerable wealth.

"I was a painter---not one that daubed on bricks and wood,
But an artist, and for my age, was rated pretty good.
I worked hard at my canvas, and was bidding fair to rise,
For Gradually I saw the star of fame before my eyes.

"I made a picture perhaps you've seen, 'tis  called the "Chase of Fame."
It brought me fifteen hundred dollars and added  to my name.
And then I met a woman--now comes the funny  part--
With eyes that petrified my brain and sank into  my heart.

"Why don't you laugh? 'Tis funny that the  vagabond you see
Could ever love a woman, and expect her love  for me;
But 'twas so, and for a month or so her smiles were freely given
And when her lovely lips touched mine, it  carried me to heaven.
 

"Boys, did you ever see a girl for whom your soul you'd give,
With a form like Milo Venus, too beautiful to live;
With eyes that would beat a Koh-i-noor, and a wealth of chestnut hair?
If so. 'twas she, for there never was another  half so fair.
 

"I was working on a portrait, one afternoon in May,
Of a fair haired boy, a friend of mine, who lived across the way;
And Madeline admired it, and, much to my  surprise,
Said she'd like to know the man who had such dreamy eyes.
 

"It didn't take long to know him, and before the month had flown
My friend had stole my darling, and I was left alone;
And ere a year of misery had passed above my head,
The jewel I had treasured so had tarnished and was dead.
 

"That's why I took to drink,boys,.Why. I never  saw you smile!
I thought you'd be amused, and laughing all the while.
Why, what's the matter, friend? There's a tear-drop in your eye,
Come, laugh like me; 'tis only babes and women that should cry.

"Say, boys, if you give me another whiskey I'll be glad,
And I'll draw right here a picture of the face that drove me mad.
Give me that piece of chalk with which you mark the baseball score--
You shall see the lovely Madeline upon the bar- room floor."

Another drink, and with chalk in hand, the vagabond began
To sketch a face that might well buy the soul of any man.
Then, as he placed another lock upon the shapely head,
With a fearful shriek, he leapt and fell across the picture---dead.