The

RUFUS HATHAWAY COLLECTION

Of CANADIAN LITERATURE

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK LIBRARY

[illustration: “My Masters and Companions, my Books”

Rufus Hawtin Hathaway]

[inside front cover]

That

Most Persistent Beggar

By

A Commercial Traveller

(With apologies to Mr. Rudyard Kipling.)

[illustration]

The Packard Electric Co., Limited, Publishers,

ST. CATHARINES, CANADA

1900

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
[unnumbered page]

[blank page]

Copyright 1900 by

The Packard Electric Company

[unnumbered page]

Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada

in the year 1900, by

The Packard Electric Company, Limited,

at the Department of Agriculture.

[unnumbered page]

That Most Persistent Beggar

[unnumbered page]

[blank page]

Verse One

WHEN you’ve served a fussy client with a smile upon your face,

    When you’ve finished making errand boys to squirm,

Will you give a moment’s hearing, just by way of kindly grace,

    To a gentleman who represents his firm?

He’s a most persistent beggar, and his energy is great,

    But his customers must take him as they find him;

He’s engaged throughout the country, booking orders up to date,

    And he doesn’t leave so very much behind him!

Big firm—small firm—firm of merchant kings:

    Fifty thousand travellers, all with the same old cry!

Each of them doing his level best to sell all sorts of things!

    And begging, ’cause your credit’s good, you’ll buy—buy—buy! [unnumbered page]

[blank page]

Verse Two

THERE are firms he calls on boldly, asking nor permission to,

   For he knew he wouldn’t get it if he did?

There are firms that pay up punctual when the prompts are falling due;

   And some from whom he cannot squeeze a quid.*

There are some he’s sold too much to: they’re not sorry when he’s gone—

   A too persistent beggar they may find him;

But you mustn’t blame if sometimes he puts extra pressure on,

   For he doesn’t like to leave a want behind him.

Big-wig—small fry—chap like a belted earl—

     Son maybe of a publican; all of them having a try,

Each of them doing his level best (you’ll seldom find him a churl).

     Fill his book for your credit’s good, and buy—buy—buy!

---

*A sovereign.

---

[unnumbered page]

[blank page]

Verse Three

THERE are travellers by thousands, not too bashful what they speak,

   And they’re stickers when they once begin to spout;

They have fairly tidy exe’s paid ’em punctual once a week,

   ’Cause it costs ’em just a trifle when they’re out.

He’s a most persistent beggar, and he won’t forget to call,

   And his customers don’t need to send to find him;

He’ll get his line and book it; and what cheers him most of all

   Is to know that there’s but little left behind him.

Big job—small job—he has so clean a book,

    He’ll sweep the decks ere he leaves the shop (at least he’ll have a try)!

Each man doing his level best, and for more there isn’t room,

    So fill his book, for your credit’s good, and buy—buy—buy!

[unnumbered page]

[blank page]

Verse Four

NOW you’ll manage when he’s coming you can look him in the face,

    And tell him—what he’d very much prefer,

That while you bought from others, yet you gave his firm a place,

    Though his rivals, who are many, may demur.

He’s a most persistent beggar, and he tries to collar all,

    For he doesn’t want employers to remind him

That you sent away the order, when advised that he would call;

   So you’ll save the line his rival’s left behind him.

Big line—small line—line to make you stare,

    Fifty thousand travellers, all with the same old cry;

Each of them doing his level best, what orders have you to spare?

     Trot them out for your credit’s sake, and buy—buy—buy!

[unnumbered page]

[2 blank pages]

DONE INTO A BOOK AT

THE PRINT SHOP

ST. CATHARINES

[unnumbered page]