Walter Léon Hess

“ TWENTY-FIFTH CATERWAUL Jack was home for Christmas
But I saw him hardly at all—
To the front door he now has a key
And the hours he keeps are quite varied.
One morning he slept very late
And the name that he spoke in his dreams
Was “Alice.”
Mrs. Horton was proud of her son and the party
She gave him was sumptuous.
[Pg 36]
TWENTY-SIXTH CATERWAUL We have a new cook at the Horton’s
Who saves the bean water for soup....
I’ve enjoyed such broth at the Mallory’s,
But at the Horton’s!!!—
And their bills are always as large
As before Bridget was installed. ”

“ A house, I fear, are more real than the eating.
I turned about and went out lest the hairs
In my coat might scatter.
[Pg 18]
NINTH CATERWAUL I have been housed with Jerolamon Jones
And his wife, whom they call “tame cat,”
For what seems a fairly long time. Jerry
They call him for short and short is the Bible
He reads. Lovers they are to the world and
To each other still more—for that is the
Judgment that counts.... Jerry has nights
“At the club” and loves his dear wife’s
Friends. ”

“ I have heard Jack’s father say:
When a man falls so low as that
He had better drown himself than—
I’ve forgotten the rest; I cannot think
In my present state of mind.
[Pg 10]
THIRD CATERWAUL Arrived at the wharf there was not
Another soul in sight ... except at the very end
Where sat a most woebegone looking Tramp
Smoking what was once a cigar
Of price. Half smoked it had been thrust
In the gutter at the theater-entrance
By a careless and prosperous merchant.
The Tramp was very near to the edge looking out
Over the water as blankly as a blind man.
A man! Look at him ... ”

“ But Mallory now and Brough
Will seem to me much more alike:
Neither will pay his bills.
... But Jack is kind to me
And Brough’s not the milk
That I drink!
[Pg 24]
FOURTEENTH CATERWAUL When Mallory worked in the shops
He drank up the wages he earned.
Now that he’s out of a job
He’s docile and kind to his wife
And dawdles the baby all day.
Old Horton used to say that Mallory
Was a good mechanic and a bad father.
Thus do critics fall out—Now that Old Horton
Is dead
He could not reverse his opinion
Nor the marble slab on his grave.
Joe Mallory was always Jack’s chum ”

“ Horton sent Alice away—she left last night
After dark.
It was better the neighbors
Shouldn’t see!
There was no reason therefore
To send poor Jack away!—
Perhaps it was just as well?
Mrs. Horton wouldn’t have Alice around
Lest it embarrass Edith and—her....
I followed Alice some way and she seemed
Quite cheerful enough.
Waiting is much the same
No matter what one expects.
[Pg 31]
TWENTY-FIRST CATERWAUL Brough is through with the Courts
And continues to ride in his car. ”

“ THIRTY-SIXTH CATERWAUL Joe Mallory told Jack about Alice—
At least of her fate.
Jack found her address
And wanted to help....
And yet there are some
Who believe heredity infallible!
[Pg 47]
THIRTY-SEVENTH CATERWAUL While Jack tried to smother
Alice’s wild burning fires
Joe never obtruded—
But when Jack was not watching
Joe brought more wood
To the kindling....
Still they were friends.
[Pg 48]
THIRTY-EIGHTH CATERWAUL You should have read Brough’s
Obituary.... He died
When he’d rescued a fortune
By making hardware and debts:
... Most Respected Merchant ...
Philanthropist.... ”

“ When Mrs. Horton was out—she had gone
To the hospital where Alice was
Supposed to have gone....
Brough’s chauffeur
Isn’t paid but it’s the only way to get what
One wants—to keep right on
Especially when fishing for eels!
Brough is a financier—the rest of us
Only fish!
[Pg 32]
TWENTY-SECOND CATERWAUL In my morning stroll I found
The Jerolamon Jones’ door stood open ”

“ Generations of men proudly
Will claim his descent!
[Pg 49]
THIRTY-NINTH CATERWAUL Edith Horton is married—
(Joe Mallory went to the wedding) —
Many a thorn-edge is dulled
By brushing it by in a hurry.... ”