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^ Marjorie Collins
My fare

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"Turn About Is Fair
Play"---Mary and John
Written in answer to the "Maggie and Jiggs" poem in 
yesterday's Press, by Vera Davis Shinn, Taylor, Texas.
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"Some one is knocking at the gate," said St. Peter. "I'll go and see." 
And standing there was burly John and his little wife Marie. 
"I'm comin' in, Old Pete," he said as he slapped him on the back. 
"I want a house on Congress and Main and if you've a little shack 
Marie'll take that. That's all she had before she married me. 
They say here there ain't no husbands and wives and I'm kinder glad you see. 
She's better live with the rest of her folks-they ain't nothin' "bout which to brag;
And to tell you the truth she's always been to me a kind-of drag. 
She'd give and give and give to the church till its was a terrible sin. 
And there's never no low down track come 'long that she wouldn't take right in. 
Many a time when I've come home I had to eat a cold dinner, 
Because she was off somewhere nursing some low down sinner.
And when there is church agoin' on she would go there night and day
And sometimes keep me wake all night a cryin' and tryin' to pray.
So it seems to me her rewards is slim 'cause she's been so poor a wife,
While as for me, now I have been a model all my life.
All the high ups in our town - now they are friends of mine,
And say, old man, it costs a lot to keep 'em all in line.
So I want to live next door to them in this my eternal home.
Because where there ain't "money, women and wine," I'm feeling sorter 'lone."
St. Peter turned to an angel near, "You here with whom he wants to live,
Look in the ledger and you'll find the address which please give
To him," and to John, "To your wife you had best now say farewell."
To Marie he said, "On the corner next door to the palace wherein is the Great White Throne,
Is a mansion fair to see - you bought it - it is your own."
So John and Mary took a trip from which there was no returning,
Mary entered eternal bliss and John - eternal burning.

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