The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-02-02
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LAZY
CLUB OF OCALA

OF members who are good and true
and who'll enforce the laws,
And other things We'll vote upon to
help along the cause
And so the meeting thus was called,
and every one thus was told,
To gather at the harness shop, no
matter hot or cold,
To cast his vote for officers for the
ensuing year,
And make the meeting one of strength
to lessen doubt and fear
And as the city clock struck four,
from all about the town,
They rushed into the harness shop,
and had their names put down;
And then the secretary said a quorum
sure was there,
And everything in readiness when
called for by the chair.
The chairman, IN his solemn way, as
he gently bowed his head,
Required that every name be called,
and all the minutes read.
And while the secretary read, though
every eye would beam,
For full minute afterwards there ST.
lence reigned supreme.
Then business of the club was talked,
and playing pool was stopped,
And hunting every day forbid-Lee
Miller's name was dropped.
And sundry bills were ordered paid
if they could find the coin
And quite few of noyices were then
allowed to join.
The secretary told them then a eau
Gus was in place,
And every one who might desire could
get into the race.
The office, then, of president, was said
to be the one
That first should come before the
house for them to vote upon.
No one would name a candidate, or
even raise his fist.
AND Mellon Johnson" finally said
Put my name upon the list"
And then they all raised up and cried,
and with single voice
Announced that Johnson was the one
of every members choice
Aud soon it was they all agra 81 tha.
Secretary Will
Should stay right where he long Ind
pcen, and that great office fill
And every chair they soon had filled,
excepting only one,
And for that place friend Billingsley
and Martin, too, had run;
And at each count if bal'o,3 p.,l!ed,
and on the desk would lie,
The secretary would announce the
vote stoid tic and tie.
The chairman said: when members
can't agree who'll fill place
The chair shall vote, and by his vote
forever end the race.
just what to do,
So | will. give the candidates q test
that's rather new
Go each into the working rooms, far
back into the rear,
Where not a one can bother you, and
none your voices hear.
Go each into separate room, and
back there you will sec
Two wagons that are just received,
and set up they must be;
And each of you shall take such tools
as such work may demand,
And he who gets his work done first,
~ him I'll always stand"
They walked into the working rooms,
each with a lighted face,
And there they thumped and bumped
and damned, for thirty minutes
space.
Then Billingsley came running out,
his eyes and cheeks aglOW,
His trousers soiled with grease and
paint, which told that he was
through.
Some one of Martins friends then
went to tell him he had lost,
To cheer him up and promise him
next term at any cost,
And help him fix up some good
scheme by which he sure must
And urge the boys that helped him
out to help him out again.
When Martin came the chairman
grasped the gavel in his hand,
And with a wave above his head he
came down or the stand,
And shouted that the meeting should
at once to order come,
While Secretary Will should say eX-
actly what was done.
The secretary then spoke up that Bill
Kingsley was through,
And had returned from out the room
ere Martin scarcely knew
That anything was going on that e'er
could get his goat,
And Billingsley must now receive the
chairman's honored vote.
The chairman then spoke up and SAID:
"The bylaws hold read:
No one shall work, or toll, or spin,
while he from stripes is freed;
And each of you who sought my vote
must this rule sure have known,
And now your names must stricken be
and some one else must run"
Then Martin, smiling, pushed his way
through that disguised bunch,
And straightway to the chair he
went, and gave the chair punch.
"Oh, sir!" he said, Il pray that you
nv story now will hear,