Said I, his pathway checking:

“Oh! lift for me the basket-lid;

I’ll only humbly peer in

And see the blessed wax!” “Sakes! marm

Not wax, but only stearine!”

Oh! sparkle brightly, olive star,

In lamp inscribed with Latin:

“Sweet oil! whose unction—” “Guess not, marm:

The gas is turned on that ’un!”

“Devotion dims my pious view,