This I did, and nothing more.

To my speech at last succeeding, I asked gravely why the bleeding,

Helpless, ill-clad, ill-fed woman had been out-cast from the store?

And the answer from the monster who had been this woman’s wrongster

Was, she had not filthy lucre to pay off her whisky score;

He’d be blowed, or something stronger, if he’d give her any more;

And he thought her quite a bore.

Then I felt my fingers itching, and my muscles all a twitching,

To seize the rascal by the throat, and stretch him straight upon the floor;

But he gave a loud hoarse chuckle, let me see his mighty knuckle,