There came a man to sell his shirt,
  A drunken man, in life low down!
When Riley, who was sitting near,
  Made use of these strange words to Brown.

'Yon fallen man, that's just gone past,
  I knew in better days than these;
Three shillings he could make a day,
  As an adept at picking peas.'

'God help us all! I never heard -
  'Tis scarce believable.' said Brown;
'To think that man was what you say,
  And now to be so low and down!

'Now, Riley, had another told me,
  What you have just remarked,' said Brown,
'I would have doubted - help us, Heaven!
  That 'tis as you have said' - cried Brown.

'You'd scarcely credit it, I knew
  A man in this same house, low down,
Who owns a fish-shop now - believe
  Me, or believe me not,' said Brown.

'He was a civil sort of cove,
  But did queer things, for one low down:
Oft have I watched him clean his teeth -
  As true as Heaven's above!' cried Brown.