The Middlebury Register

"Don't slop over," the old man said
As he placed his hand on the young man's head.
"Go it by all means, go it fast.
Go it while leather and horse-shoes last!
Go it while hide and hair on horse
Will hold together. Oh! go it of course-
Go it as fast as you can,
But don't slop over my dear young man."

Don't slop over. You'll find some day
That keeping an eye to the windward will pay.
A horse may run a little too long.
A preacher preach just a fraction too strong:
And a poet who pleases the world with rhymes,
May write and regret it in after times.
Keep the end of the effort always in view,
And don't slop over whatever you do.

Don't slop over. The wisest men
Are bound to slop over now and then:
And yet the wisest at work or feart,
Are the very ones that blunder the least.
Those who for spilt milk do not wail,
Are the ones to carry the steadlest pail.
Whenever you go, go in for the fat,
But don't slop over-and freeze to that.

Don't slop over. Great Solomon
Once went a little too far with his fun.
Louis Napoleon, as we all know,
Slopped over on Max. in Mexico.
Horace Greeley and Jefferson D.
And Hilton Helper and old J. B.
And Andy Johnson, the great I won't,
All slopped over take care you don't.

Don't slop over. Distrust yourself,
Nor always reach up to the highest shelf:
The next to the highest will generally do
And answer the purpose of such as you.
Climb of course but always stop
And take breath this side of the top:
And so you will reach it In wind and strong
Without slopping over. Thus ends my song.