He struggled on and upward,
Impelled by high ambition.
He bent his strongest efforts
To better his condition.
He paid the price of labor,
As others had before him.
A rich and bounteous harvest
His earnest efforts bore him.
Two loafers were exchanging
Their shallow talk one morning,
Their conversation ranging
From filthiness to scorning.
He passed. One said: “There’s Sweezy.
My way was always rocky.
But some folks have it easy.
That fellow sure is lucky.”