The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-12-29
THE FACE ON THE
DARKROOM FLOOR


that stood upon the square,
And as song and witty stories came
through the door
A vagabond came slowly in and stood
upon the floor,
"Where did it come from?" someone
said, "The wind hath blown it in
"What does it want 2" another cried
"some whiskey, rum or gin ?"
"Here Toby, sic himI if your stom-
ach's equal to the work,
wouldn't touch him with fork, he's
as dirty as a Turk"
This badinage the poor wretch took
in stoical good grace,
In fact, he smiled, as though he
thought he'd struck the proper
place.
"Now boys, l know there's goodly
hearts among so good a crowd;
To be in such good company would
make deacon proud.
"Give me drink, that's what l want,
Pm out of funds, you know.
L
this hand was never slow.
What? You Taught as if you thought
this pocket had never had sou,
My, boys, / once was fixed as well as
any of you!
There, thanks; that braced me nice
ly. God bless you one and ALL
Next time | pass this good saloon, I'll
make another call.
Give you a song? l can't do that; my
singing days are past,
My voice is gone, my throat worn out,
my lungs are going fast.
"Say, give me another whiskey and
I'll tell you what I'll do,
III tell you funny story, and a fact,
I'll promise, too.
That was ever a decent man not one
of you would think,
But | was, some four or five years
back-say, give me another drink.
Gill her up, Joe, want to put some
life into this frame;
Such little drinks to, bum like me
are miserably tame.
Five fingers-there, that's the score,
and corning whiskey, too!
Well boys, here's luck; and landlord,
my best regards to you.
you've treated me pretty kindly,
boys, and I'd like to tell you how
/ came to be the dirty sot you see be-
fore you now;
AS told you, once | was a man, with
muscles, frame and health,
And but for a blunder might have
made considerable wealth.
81 was painter, not one that daubed
on brick or wood,
But an artist, and for my age was
rated pretty good.
| worked hard on my canvas, and was
bidding fair to rise,
| painted picture, perhaps you've
seen; it's called The Chase of
Fame; ...
1t brought me fifteen hundred pounds,
and added to my name.
And then | met a woman-now, here
comes the funny part;
With eyes that petrified my brain and
sunk into my heart
"Why don't you laugh? IT'S funny,
that a vagabond like me
Could ever love a woman, and expect
her love for me.
But it was so, and for month her
smiles were freely given,
And when her loving 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 lips that would beat the Kohl
moor, and a wealth of chestnut
hair?
If so, twas she, for there never was
another half so fair.
81 was working at a portrait, one af-
ternoon in May,
OF 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.
at didn't take long to know him, and
before a month had flown
My friend had stole my darling, and
l was left alone.
And before a year of misery had
passed above my head,
The jewel | had treasured so had tar
nished-and was dead
That's why / took to drink, boys
Why, | never saw you smilel
| thought that you would be amused,
and laughing all the while.
Why, what's the matter, friend? II
saw tear drop in your eye;
Come, laugh with me, It's only babes
and women that should cry.
"Say, if you gave me another drink,
boys, it will make me glad,
And I'll draw right here the 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 up
on the barroom floor"