To Father and Mr Staples

Two old pals, staunch and true,
Members of a gang of men in blue.
Sit and chat of old times they had,
Some of them good, some of them bad.
How thin and pale they both have gone,
The bones of their bodies have nothing on.
And yet how they eat; they should look well
When they’re out walking, they look quite swell.
Ah; it’s the first of October, now see their faces,
Their troubles are o’er of them there are no traces.
Off to the Police Station; off to the Bank;
How smart they look; my word what swank.
Money for nothing now they’ve received,
Their wives will get it when they’re bereaved.