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THE BANK THIEF, by                    
First Line: Twas a busy day in the courtroom, and a curious crowd was there
Last Line: And god alone will know his sin upon the judgment day.


'TWAS A BUSY DAY in the courtroom, and a curious crowd was there.
In the prison dock an old tramp stood, alone in his despair.
The judge in silence looked at him, "I pity you," said he;
"The charge is not a serious one, and I may set you free."
"Now don't you pity me, Judge, nor say that I am free --
A prison cell is my future home so keep your sympathy;
But let me tell the story, how my brother Tom and I
Together climbed ambitious heights in manhood side by side.
Tom was a lawyer of some renown, and rising in the ranks,
While I for brain and skill was made cashier in a bank.
And so we trod the beaten path and brighter grew each day;
But one, alas, was doomed to fall dishonored by the way.
It was not Tom, but I who fell, the devil gained his own;
I robbed the bank one evil night, and stole away unknown.
'Mid foreign scenes I tried to drown the specter of my crime.
A coward's refuge there I sought, women, cards and wine.
And Tom was faithful through it all, and loved me just the same,
And labored years in vain to lift the stigma from my name.
He knew that somewhere in the world, a fugitive I roamed,
And nobly bore the taunts of shame and paid my debts at home.
The fatal gift of theft is gold, for which men madly crave;
A sequel, too, goes with the gift, which leads down to the grave.
I've stemmed the tide of human woe, by God and man disowned,
A shadow in the dark of night, unpitied and unknown.
Look at me now, and study well this wretched thing called man,
That once with peace of mind was blest, till treachery began
To tempt my soul with pleasures vain and point to life's highway,
When glittering sin allures the weak and poisons with its rays.
I've seen the world, the maddening throng, the cup filled to the brim,
And in the lurid glow I sunk to misery and sin.
The gates of hell are opened full and I have ceased to strive;
The bank thief stands before you now, a wrecked, a worthless life."
It was the oft-told story of temptation's crooked sway;
But see, the judge is rising, what means that pallid face?
Can one so great and learned as he so feel a tramp's disgrace?
A cry is heard that startles all, the thief falls to the floor --
The judge is kneeling at his side, a prey to bitter pain:
"Oh God! 'tis cruel fate's decree, thus we should meet again!"
On life's highway they met at last, brothers, Jack and Tom,
As judge and culprit at the bar, where crime is frowned upon.
They grew to manhood just and true, but one fell by the way,
And God alone will know his sin upon the judgment day.





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