• Snappy Stories (August 4, 1919)   "No Beer, No Work"   A poem in 25 verses. p 1.  [EPBLIB]

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from Snappy Stories
No Beer, No Work
by Ellis Parker Butler

The shades of night was fallin' slow
As through New York a guy did go
      And nail on ev'ry barroom door
      A card that this here motter bore:
                  "No beer, no work."

His brow was sad, his mouth was dry;
It was the first day of July,
      And where, all parched and scorched it hung,
      These words was stenciled on his tongue:
                  "No beer, no work."

"Oh, stay," the maiden said, "and sup
This malted milk from this here cup."
      A shudder passed through that there guy,
      But with a moan he made reply:
                  "No beer, no work."

At break of day, as through the town
The milkman put milk bottles down,
      Onto one stoop a sort of snore
      Was heard, and then was heard no more --
                  "No beer, no work."

The poor old guy plumb dead was found
And planted in the buryin' ground,
      Still graspin' in his hand of ice
      Them placards with this sad device:
                  "No beer, no work."

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