Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1912 — The ONLOOKER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The ONLOOKER

by WILBUR D. NESBIT

KNOCKER

Opportunity knocked at his door, Rapped and rapped, and then thumped some more, But he Was knocking his friends who had found success: “I knowed ’em,” he growled, “when they had much less. And never a one of ’em earned a cent — Why, many’s the time they were stuck for rent. I’ve knowed ’em, by jinks; when they all enjoyed Corn’ beef, an’ their cuffs were of celluloid, An’ many an’ many an’ many's the time They’ve been right down to their last lone dime. But now, by crickey! they’re rich an’ cold; They’ve got all the cash that their hands can hold— They try to be friendly, but I can see It’s just condescending they want to be To me!” And O. bow he knocked, as he thought of how His friends had succeeded. Of Then and Now He growled. He cited the fact”that they started fair, That he had the chance that they had back there, And now they were cashing on brain and nerve — “They’re living in style that they don’t deserve An’ some of ’em think that they’ve leaped to fame. Dadburn ’em! They ask folks to print their name! Why, I’m just as good as the whole blamed bunch! I knowed ’em when they couldn’t buy their lunch. But that’s just the way that things gpes; I might Be livin’ like them—an’ it isn’t right!” He scowled. Bo Opportunity knocked at his door, Rapped, and rapped, and then thumped some more That day. But he was so busy at knocking, too, That what she was doing he never knew; He made so much noise that he could not hear The summons she sent to his deafened ear. So Opportunity shook her head And silently, softly, surely sped Away.