Sample-Rooms

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 11, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 43.

SAMPLES of wine and samples of beer, Samples of all kinds of liquor sold here,— Samples of whisky, samples of gin, Samples of all kinds of “bitters”—step in. Samples of ale, and porter, and brandy, Samples as large as you please, and quite handy. Our samples are pure, and also you’ll find Our customers always genteel and refined; For gentlemen know when they’ve taken enough, And never partake of common stuff. Besides these samples within, you know, There are samples without of what they can do,— Samples of headache, samples of gout, Samples of coats with the elbows out, Samples of men in the gutter lying, Samples of men with delirium dying, Samples of men cursing and swearing, Samples of men all evil daring, Samples of lonely, tired men, Who long in vain for their freedom again; Samples of old men worn in the strife, Samples of young men tired of life, Samples of ruined hopes and lives, Samples of desolate homes and wives; Samples of aching hearts grown cold With anguish and misery untold; Samples of noble youth in disgrace, Who meet you with averted face; Samples of hungry little ones, Starving to death in their dreary homes. In fact, there is scarcely a woe on earth But our samples have nurtured or given them birth. O, all ye helpers to sorrow and crime, Who deal out death for a single dime, Know ye that the Lord, though He may delay, Has in reserve for the last great day The terrible “wo” of whose solemn weight No mortal can know, till the pearly gate Is closed, and all with one accord Acknowledge the justice of their reward. — Selected.