No Beer, No Work


from Snappy Stories August 4,1917 No Beer, No Work by Ellis Parker Butler				(these are the first 5 of 25 verses - if you have the rest, please contact beerguy@arachnyd.com)
	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."