  YOU thought you would take me, you say, by surprise! You rascal! I knew you the moment my eyes Lit on your old phiz, and I couldn’t mistake Your voice nor your motions. How are you? Let’s shake! Train late? But you got here? Now why did you wire Me not to expect you, you measureless liar? Come up to my den, and by jolly! we’ll make A night of it—where is your luggage? Let’s shake! Say, how have you been? Let me look in your face; Have you won, have you lost, in the strenuous race? Have you knocked the persimmons and taken the cake? No? Here’s a small wallet—we’ll share it— Let’s shake! You may bank on my heart,—it is truer than gold; Hot, hotter it grows as the world waxes cold; Through flood and through flame I would go for your sake, That’s so, Bill, you grizzly old humbug, Let’s shake! You’re married, I dare say, or leastwise, in love? Speak out, for you know we are like hand and glove; I used to think you and Belle Esmond would wed;— Yes, yes, as I wrote you, the baby is dead;— I feared for awhile that my wife’s heart must break; Your hand, dear old comrade—don’t mind me,— Let’s shake! God bless you! I’m awfully glad you are here, You must not make fun of this womanish tear; He was only a baby, scarce two Aprils old, But, William, I tell you they do get a hold Why, somehow or other, we’re not quite content With this planet;—but when all our miseries here Are over, I hope we may strike a new sphere Up yonder, where hearts never hunger nor ache;— You’ll get there, I reckon, if I do? Let’s shake! |
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