A MERCHANT' S LAMENT 



I 'm fifty years old today, today, 



I 'm fifty years old today, 



In great disgust and deep despair, 

 I bang my face and I claw my hair. 



For I 'm fifty years old today. 



Jf I co'uld only be young again, 

 Witfunever a bill to pay, 



1 liglit a cigar five feet long with a 

 ~ bond, 



And if beer ran like water, I'd drink 

 up a pond. 

 But I 'm fifty years old today. 



I was born in the panic of 

 Believe me or not as you may. 



And my fortune tho' small has never 

 been lost. 



And I'm still at the old stand soiling 

 at cost, 



Tho' I'm fifty years old today. 



They never can say 1 'm antique, antique, 

 Althougli I am grizzled and gray, 



But like an old rug I am still on the 

 floor. 



And hope to be spared for many years 

 Tho' I 'm fifty years old today. 



And when the last trump does blow, does 

 blow. 



And I 'm to be wafted away, 



I m.ay sit on a cloud and go up in the 

 air. 



Or sink to the depths, and you know 

 I 've friends there. 

 But I 'm fifty years old today. 



