When I’ve faded out of the scene;

But it hurts me to think that right here and just now

Is a sorry betwixt and between.”

At that I got tired a-hearin’ Sy spout,

And says I, “Sy, you like to enthuse

Regardin’ the marvelous work you’d turn out

If you stood in some other man’s shoes;

But while all your ’might-’a’-been’ praises you sing,

It’s worth while recallin’ as how

That no man on earth ever does the first thing