JAKE’S WISH
Two Hebrew gents named Mose and Jake once took a little walk
To gaze upon the scenery and have a little talk.
Both were lean and hungry, poor and shabby unto rags;
But both were full determined to climb life’s rocky crags.
They talked about their hopes, their fears and wealthy dreams,
As folks do sometimes who have known dire poverty’s extremes.
And then they fell to wishing, a foolish thing to do;
But innocent and pleasing, and it costs so little, too.
Jake wished this and Moses that; for wealth of various kinds;
Diamonds, gold, and precious things, according to their minds;
When, as a mountain came in view, Jake had a great big think,
And voiced a wish so mighty it made meek Moses blink.
Said he, “See, Mose, dot great big hill piled up so mighty grand;
I vish dat it vass solid gold, and in the hollow of my hand;
All mine to do vith as I vould, then I’d buy power and place;
Kings would come and bow to me, for I would be the ACE.”
“Oh! s’elp me,” cried out Moses, between a gasp and groan,
“If dat vas true, vould you giff me some?”
Said Jake, “Get a vish of yer own.”
No man can live up to his own ideal let alone that of his wife.
It is better to be a live Civil Servant than a dead Governor-General.
Merit is a useful thing to have in connection with a pull, but it is not necessary.
A High Salary is an imaginary sum of money; such a thing does not exist in fact.