“If you know that you’re paid to be funny?”

It adds to the tasks

Of a merryman’s place,

When your principal asks,

With a scowl on his face,

If you know that you’re paid to be funny?

Comes a Bishop, maybe, or a solemn D.D.—

Oh! beware of his anger provoking

Better not pull his hair—don’t stick pins in his chair;

He won’t understand practical joking.