And a dog is a hungry creature."—
When thus began a plain-spoken man—
Not the least of a popular preacher:
"Now, it seems to my mind—though no doubt I'm blind
Not to follow friend Ephraim's reason—
That we've not thrown away our policeman's pay,
If our pillows we take our ease on,
Without any dread of a chap 'neath the bed,
With a knife to slit one's weason.
"If our bars and our bolts, and revolvers from Colt's