And he knew what "taking it short" meant.
Till there came bad times, and long columns of crimes
Filled the files of the morning papers,
How cribs had been cracked, and tills ransacked,
And all sorts of burglarious capers,
Set forth without stint by all arts of print
To attract the gobemouches and gapers.
But Smug only jeered, as these stories appeared,
At the nervousness of each neighbour;
Said it would be absurd, were cost incurred