Our Old Friend Neverfail

O it's good to ketch a relative 'at's richer and don't run      When you holler out to hold up, and'll joke and have his fun;      It's good to hear a man called bad and then find out he's not,      Er strike some chap they call lukewarm 'at's really red-hot;      It's good to know the Devil's painted jes' a leetle black,      And it's good to have most anybody pat you on the back; -      But jes' the best thing in the world's our old friend Neverfail,      When he wags yer hand as honest as an old dog wags his tail!      I like to strike the man I owe the same time I can pay,      And take back things I've borried, and su'prise folks thataway;      I like to find out that the man I voted fer last fall,      That didn't git elected, was a scoundrel after all;      I like the man that likes the pore and he'ps 'em when he can;      I like to meet a ragged tramp 'at's still a gentleman;      But most I like - with you, my boy - our old friend Neverfail,      When he wags yer hand as honest as an old dog wags his tail!