THE ORIGIN OF ' LABBY ' 19 



But stern necessity drew nigh 

 And bade the youth to work or die ; 

 So sought he work for he grew lank 

 And hied to Gwillian Beacon's Bank. 

 The banking partners took him in 

 They rather liked his cheeky grin 

 And so he ranked now only mark 

 As under-sub-assistant clerk. 



Epaminondas Grabyourshare 

 For such employment did not care ; 

 With ledgers he disdained to cope, 

 But rather thought of fair Miss Hope ; 

 And soon his prospects grew most dark 

 As under-sub-assistant clerk. 



But so it chanced upon a day 

 His eye grew bright, his manner gay, 

 And to the partners quick he hied, 

 Who sat within their room inside. 

 " Good sirs," he cried, " I wish to be 

 A partner of your company ! " 



The startled bankers gazed aghast- 

 They thought his wits were gone at last. 

 " Absurd ! " they cried ; " it cannot be 

 A partner YOU, with such as WE ! 

 Your aid we very well can spare, 

 Epaminondas Grabyourshare." 



" Well," said the youth, " that may be so, 



But let me say before I go 



The promised husband, sirs, I am 



Of fair Miss Hope, of Amsterdam ! " 



