Hard Luck
I left the course, and by my sideThere walked a ruined tout—A hungry creature evil-eyed,Who poured this story out.
‘You see,’ he said, ‘there came a swellTo Kensington to-day,And if I picked the winners well,A crown at least he’d pay.
‘I picked three winners straight, I did,I filled his purse with pelf,And then he gave me half-a-quid,To back one for myself.
‘A half-a-quid to me he cast,I wanted it indeed.So help me Bob, for two days pastI haven’t had a feed.
‘But still I thought my luck was in,I couldn’t go astray,I put it all on Little Min,And lost it straightaway.
‘I haven’t got a bite or bed,I’m absolutely stuck,So keep this lesson in your head:Don’t over-trust your luck!’
The folks went homeward, near and far,The tout, Oh! where was he?Ask where the empty boilers are,Beside the Circular Quay.