< Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems
JOHNNY JUDKINS.
- Johnny Judkins was a vender
- Of a patent liquid blacking:
- Johnny Judkins he was witty,
- And for "cheek" he was not lacking.
- Johnny stood upon the corner,
- Selling polish day by day,
- And would "polish off" a party
- Who had any thing to say.
- Johnny's stereotyped expression
- Was, "Now, gents, at the beginnin'
- I would state this magic polish
- Will not soil the finest linen."
- Johnny then its other virtues
- Rapidly would mention o'er,
- And would sell his gaping hearers
- From a dozen to a score.
- Hans von Puffer bought a bottle,
- Which upon his shirt-front white,
- As he used it without caution,
- Left a spot as black as night.
- Back to Johnny went Von Puffer,
- Saying, " Vot vas dot you zayl
- 'Tvill not soil der vinest linen?
- See mine shirt-vrond righdt avay!
- "Vot vas dot ubon mine bosom?
- Von't you dold me, ef you blease!
- Shust you gife me pack mine money,
- Or I goes vor der boleese!"
- Johnny looked upon the Deutscher
- With a bland and childlike smile;
- Then upon the crowd before him,
- Who enjoyed the sport meanwhile.
- "Gentlemen," says Johnny Judkins,
- "As I said in the beginnin',
- This 'ere patent liquid polish
- Will not soil the finest linen.
- "As for that," says Johnny Judkins,—
- Pointing where the spot of crock
- Showed upon Von Puffer's bosom
- Like a black sheep in a flock,—
- "As for that," repeated Johnny,
- "If you call that linen fine,
- I would merely say, my hearers,
- Your opinion is not mine."
- Johnny Judkins still continues
- Selling blacking by the ton.
- Hans von Puffer chalks that bosom
- Every time he puts it on.
This work was published before January 1, 1924, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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