No More Learning

"
"I'm not afraid.
There's five: that's all I carry. "
"I can search you?
Where are you moving over to? Stay still.
You'd better tuck your money under you
And sleep on it the way I always do
When I'm with people I don't trust at night. "
"Will you believe me if I put it there
Right on the counterpane--that I do trust you? "
"You'd say so, Mister Man. --I'm a collector.
My ninety isn't mine--you won't think that.
I pick it up a dollar at a time
All round the country for the Weekly News,
Published in Bow. You know the Weekly News? "
"Known it since I was young. "
"Then you know me.
Now we are getting on together--talking.
I'm sort of Something for it at the front.
My business is to find what people want:
They pay for it, and so they ought to have it.
Fairbanks, he says to me--he's editor--
Feel out the public sentiment--he says.
A good deal comes on me when all is said.
The only trouble is we disagree
In politics: I'm Vermont Democrat--
You know what that is, sort of double-dyed;
The News has always been Republican.
Fairbanks, he says to me, 'Help us this year,'
Meaning by us their ticket. 'No,' I says,
'I can't and won't. You've been in long enough:
It's time you turned around and boosted us.
You'll have to pay me more than ten a week
If I'm expected to elect Bill Taft.
I doubt if I could do it anyway. '"
"You seem to shape the paper's policy. "
"You see I'm in with everybody, know 'em all.
I almost know their farms as well as they do. "
"You drive around? It must be pleasant work. "
"It's business, but I can't say it's not fun.