Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 150, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1904 — THE LITTLE TAILOR ON THE HILL [ARTICLE]

THE LITTLE TAILOR ON THE HILL

By Margaret Widdemer.

I asked the little tailor as he sewed upon the hill, I “How can the little busy bee the poet’s words fulfill?, How could that little animal, suppose he had the powers, (Or anybody else) improve already shining hours?” Says he, “Oho I You’re very slow! Why, shine them with Sapolio 1” I asked the little tailor as he sat a-catching flies, “Why was the man who jumped within the briar bush so wise? For leaping into brambles, I would plainly say to you,' Is not a thing the average man is very apt to do!” “Oh, don’t you know Why he did so? —... In that Lush was Sapolio!” “Oh, little tailor,” once said I, “I wish you’d tell to me, Why, when I take my walks abroad, so many poor I see; And why they’re alwafVs dirtier than anyone I’ve seen, And even have objections sto my , garments being clean ?” Said he, “They go All dirty so, Because they’ve no Sapolio!”

I asked the little tailor as he smoked one windy night, “Pray tell me why the little dogs delight to bark and bite, For, though I own a little dog, I do not think that he Has ever barked or bitten at my friends or yet at me !” “Dogs are a foe To dirt, and so Bite those who hate Sapolio I”

I sat down by the tailor on the hill s .jaud asked him this: "Why can you always ’tell me what the reason for things is? And why are both your wisdom and,, your scissors always bright,. So they light our little village on the very darkest night?” "Before’ you go,” He said, "Just know The answer to all’s Sapolio!” I met the little tailor with my Grecian Hist’ry bodk, Said I, "I wish at Hercules you’d give a little look, And tell me how it was he cleaned the Augean stables so - By simply turning into them a little river’s flow?” "That river’s flow, All writers know, Contained,” said he, “Sapohol”

I watched the little stars that shine above the world so high, And I saw them wink and wiggle all in rows along the sky, Then said I unto the tailor, as I watched each little star: “Now don’t you often wonder what those starlets really are?” “Wonder? Oh, no! Those stars that glow” Are pans shined with Sapolio!”

I said’unto the tailor, “I can’t real*ly understand Why Macbeth's wife made all that fuss about her stained hand? They say she used to walk around the basement stairs at night, And wail about her fingers till the house was in a fright I” He said, "Her woe, You surely know Was lack of Hand Sapolio 1"