WHEN THE LID WAS ON.

They were seated there in silence

Each one busy with a frown,

It was midnight in the city,

And the lid was on the town.

They had all been playing poker

‘ Mid the rattle of the chink,

When a gloom fell o'er the party,

For they could n't buy a drink,

But a little fellow whispered

As he held a poker hand,

“Ca n't we get as drunk on water

As we can upon the land?”

Then we kicked the little rascal,

And we spoke without a frown,

And we anchored safe in harbor

When the lid was on the town.