"The Song of The Human 2x4"

The song of a human 2x4 And what he did for a town; The song of a dead one-a wise young guy And of lumber-up and down.

The town was the town we all live in, With the very same troubles and joys; The very same streets, the very same stores, The very same girls and boys.

And "Old Bill Jones," with his lumber yard You'Il find in YOUR town today. It's a different man and a different vard. But it's run Bill Jones' way.

Bill said that lumber was trees cut small And trees couLd stand the rain; So what was the use of covering the boardsThey'd soon get dry again.

And s'posin' the mouldin' DID warp a bit; If a carpenter savied his trade He could drive enough nails to hold that strip As straight as when it was made.

Bill purchased his stuff in mixed car lots Of shingles, and boards, and cement, Dimension stuff and lath and sash; And all on the ground it went.

But what did Bill care if his sash and doors Got covered an inch with mould?

For years he had orvned the only place Where any such things were sold.

Bill didn't care whether you bought or not; At an order he wouldn't smile; For selling boards was too much workBut checkers was really worth while.

He had a lean-to oflice shack, A desk. a stove and some chairs.

And Bill and his cronies spent most of their time A-playing away their cares.

And if you wanted a board or two His answer was alr,vays the same:

"There ain't no rush in this here town. Just wait till I finish this game."

One day a young fellow came to town And walked around all day. He talked a little, and listened a lot, And then he went away.

In about a month some handsome sheds Were built on a lot just where You could look out back and see Bill's yard; But Old Bill didn't care.

Said he: "That boy's got a lot to learn.

"Just look at that big expense

"Ife's putting into a lurnber yard.

"\Mell, some folks ain't got no sense.

"I've been in this town for thirty years

"And the folks all know my yard.

"I've got all the trade there IS to get, "And that fellow'll fall down hard."

But the wise young guy didn't worry a bit. He had come to that town to stay

And he'd made up his mind he'd GET some trade If it took him a year and a day.

His stock was clean and he kept it so. His yard was spick and span; His of;fice was pleasant and large and light And he talked like a business man.

He wrote some ads for the weekly GAZETTE

Just like a regular store.

And he didn't just tell that he'd lumber to sell But said a whole lot more.

He wrote that he wanted the men and their wives To visit his yard and see

Just how pleasant it was to do business with him And.how handsome GOOD lumber could be.

Believe me ! They came-all but Old Bill JonesAnd they learned a thing or two.

He showed them some plans of some pretty homes And gave them the prices, too.'

Then he took a ride to the countrv side To show some farmer cranks

How a silo filled would help to build A balance in the banks.

The letters he wrote. the calls he made Brought people into his place;

And the pleasant way he treated them Kept a smile on every face.

The greatest pains were none too great To take. He made everv one feel That they were receiving his personal care And getting a fair, square deal.

And last of all he issued a call For the men to meet one night.

They then and there founded a Board of Trade Which for our town could fight.

That was the thing that woke us up. The old town died right there;

For the wise young guy made a brand new townAnd we call him: "Mr. Mayor."

When they shuffled the cards of the lumber yards 'Twas "23" Bill earned.

But the lesson it taught to Bill was not Any worse than the rest of us learned.

'We're proud of that kid and what he did And we're prouder as time goes past.

He MADE us know that our town COULD grow, And it sure is growing fast.

So this is the song of the wise young guy And lumber-up and down.

The "human 2x4" is you The brace of your own home town.

And you can give the town where you live A portion of what you take.

The lumber yard is the trumping cardIf the boss is wide awake.

For towns are built of houses, you know, And houses are built of wood;

And the man who will see that they're both built well Is doing a work that's GOOD.