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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EVIL RENOWN, by WALT MASON Poet's Biography
First Line: What sort of man is henry hank?' I
Last Line: "men will boost you while alive, and praise you when you die."
Subject(s): Borrowers And Lenders; Debt; Money
First Line: What sort of man is henry hank?' I
Last Line: "men will boost you while alive, and praise you when you die."
Subject(s): Borrowers And Lenders; Debt; Money
"WHAT sort of man is Henry Hank?" I asked the cashier at the bank; he sighed, as
with regrets, and sadly shook his weary head, and swatted seven flies and said,
"He doesn't pay his debts." Thus finally the cashier spake, no explanations did
he make—there was no more to say; no use of arguing about—for that
pronouncement lets Hank out, the man who doesn't pay. A man's forgiven many
things as through this busy life he swings, and swears and swats and sweats; a
thousand faults we lightly scan, but there's no pardon for the man who doesn't
pay his debts. If I had seven silly sons, I'd hand them counsel, tons on tons,
to help them on their way; the burden of my spiel would be, "My batty boys, on
land or sea, be prompt your bills to pay. You may have stacks of sterling worth,
and seem too good for this cheap earth, but if you dodge your bills, the world
will strike your balance sheets, and set you down as chronic beats, which
reputation kills. Go forth, my beamish boys," I'd say, "and always be as prompt
to pay, as you are prompt to buy; and you will flourish then, and thrive, and
men will boost you while alive, and praise you when you die."