"Excelsior"

Title: "Excelsior"

Author: Bret Harte

Release date: December 24, 2007 [eBook #24019]

Language: English

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24019

Credits: Produced by Anne Storer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

[Pg 1]

[Pg 4]

The shades of night were falling fast, As through an Eastern village passed A youth who bore, through dust and heat, A stencil-plate, that read complete—“SAPOLIO.”

[Pg 6]

CLEAN PAINT, OIL CLOTHS, FLOORS, WOOD WORK, TABLES & SHELVES with Sapolio.

[Pg 8]

His brow was sad, but underneath, White with “Odonto” shone his teeth, And through them hissed the words, “Well, blow Me tight if here is ’ary show!” “SAPOLIO.”

[Pg 10]

WASH DISHES, PORCELAIN, CHINA & GLASS WARE with Sapolio.

[Pg 12]

On household fences, gleaming bright, Shone “Gargling Oil,” in black and white, Once “Bixby’s Blacking” stood alone, He straight beside it clapped his own—“SAPOLIO.”

[Pg 14]

POLISH MILK CANS & PANS AND ALL KINDS OF TIN WARE with Sapolio.

[Pg 16]

“Try not my fence,” the old man said, “With ‘Mustang Liniment’ ’tis spread, Another vacant spot thar aint.” He answered with a dash of paint—“SAPOLIO.”

[Pg 18]

CLEAN STEEL KNIVES & FORKS AND ALL METALLIC TOOLS AND UTENSILS with Sapolio.

[Pg 20]

“O, stay,” the maiden said, “A rest Pray give us! What with ‘Bixby’s Best,’ And ‘Simmons’ Pills,’ we’re like to die.” He only answered, “Will you try—SAPOLIO?”

[Pg 22]

CLEAN BATH TUBS, WASH BASINS AND SINKS with Sapolio.

[Pg 24]

“Beware them peaks! That wall so bright Is but a snow bank, gleaming white, Your paint wont stick!” Came the reply, “I’ve done it! ‘How is that for high?’” “SAPOLIO.”

[Pg 26]

SCOUR POTS, KETTLES, PANS & ALL BRASS & COPPER UTENSILS with Sapolio.

[Pg 28]

One Sabbath morn, as heavenward White Mountain tourists slowly spurred, On ev’ry rock, to their dismay, They read that legend strange, alway—“SAPOLIO”

[Pg 30]

CLEAN GLASS WARE, WINDOWS, PORCELAIN & CHINA WARES with Sapolio.

[Pg 32]

There on the summit, old and fat, Shameless, but vigorous, he sat, While on their luggage as they passed, He checked that word, from first to last, “SAPOLIO.”

[Pg 34]

CLEAN MARBLE TABLES, FLOORS, STATUARY AND HARD FINISHED WALLS with Sapolio.