I sat with my old friend William Bell
Who read from his newfound newspaper page
The mirror behind me reflected well
Despite the antiquity of its age
We both had sat down to settle our tea
The day before us was laden with work
For we in our wealth had some industry
And our supervising we could not shirk
The newspaper page he read so intent
That I was anxious to hear what he'd say
He glanced at me and murmured with head bent
"Our entire fortune has now gone away"
It was too much for my heart to handle
It simply stopped like a blown-out candle