“Green!” cries the other in a fury.

“Why, sir—d’ye think I’ve lost my eyes?”

“’Twere no great loss,” the friend replies;

“For, if they always serve you thus,

You’ll find ’em but of little use.”

So high at last the contest rose,

From words they almost came to blows:

When luckily came by a third—

To him the question they refer’d;

And begg’d he’d tell ’em, if he knew,