THE PERSEVERING BEGGARS.

Evening Star, Issue 11168, 17 February 1900, Page 8

THE PERSEVERING BEGGARS.

A very gond parody on Kipling’s ‘ Absentminded Beggar’ has come from Sydney. It appears that the Premier of New South Wales, in his Budget speech, slated that “there was a further smn of £14.000. which was intended to provide for increases to the salaries of Civil servants.” Some, of the latter had their doubts a.s to whether such good news could be true. A Civil Service wag, in an appeal to the Public Sendee Board, under tho title ‘ The Persevering Beggars,’ thus shivs his song. Ids lasi notes, like those of the dying swan, being the sweetest:

When the Estimates are done with, when you’ve got, the cash in hand.

When the House has ceased to grumble and abuse, Will you kindly give attention to the gallant little band

Who arc anxiously awaiting bigger screws? We are persevering beggars, and deserve a better fate

Thau to sit for ever languishing for rises. Just at present we are in a very impecunious state, And we hope you’ll speed that day of sweet surprises. Blue day, bright day. cure of a hundred ills (Fourteen thousand golden sovs. actually coining our way). Each of ’em doing a noble work—helping to pay the bills— Pass the bag for the tradesmen's sake, and pay, pay, pay! There are debts we’ve raised in secret, for wo’ve never breathed a word

When our monthly screws have gently petered out; There’s tho butcher and the baker, and, what’s even more absurd,

Wo’ve a lot of uncles following us about! There are bills wo’ve run up casual—they will worry us ere long; There are bits of blue of various shapes and

sizes— For we’re persevering beggars, and we’ve gone it pretty strong, But we’ll settle on tho day wo touch our rises.

Blue bills, white bills, bills of a hundred hues (All hung up on the office file, awaiting the happy day). Each of ’em wanting the price of our work (but who’s to look after the Jews ?) Pass the bag for our credit’s sake, and pay, pay, pay! There are some of us whoVc married (with a view to share our joys), And were wishing now our wives had been unwilling; For our increments seem somehow all to stop at girls and boys, And our screws refuse to grow by half a shilling. ,We are persevering beggars, but there’s hardly any doubt That, unless we speed the day of tenner rises. We shall have to wait the sliadea of night be-’ fore wo venture out, Or else adopt ridiculous disguises. Big clerks, small clerks, clerks of a hundred grades (Fourteen -thousand goklen sovs. really coming their way), Bach of ’em doing a needful work (stepping the creditors’ raids); . ° Pass ine bag for everyone’s sake, and pay, piy, pay! Mercutio.