But any ’ow I’ll tell it you.
Well, I think ’twas last December—
’Bout as near as I can tell—
Joe Hale, then a stiddy member,
Lost ’is wife an’ kid as well.
That upset ’im altogether,
Drove ’im nearly off ’is head;
Whether it was that, or whether
It was not, it’s what was said.
Fightin’ every night an’ boozin’,