From The Sacramento Bee, July 18, 1900:

Mary and Her Landlord

Mary opened a little shop To help her on life’s way: And honest toil found its reward And it began to pay.

“How’s biz?" the landlords often asked, And Mary was imprudent; Of course she never guessed he was An economic student.

But Mary’s landlord’s eagle eye Was watching how thing went, And when the 1st of May came round He doubled Mary’s rent.

The imposition staggered her, But what could Mary do? Subsistence bare is the tenant’s share. All above is the landlord’s due.

So Mary kept on as before. Improving as time went. But step by step with increased trade The landlord raised tho rent.

And thus the merry game went on, Till Mary’s life was spent. As fast as God could prosper her. The landlord raised the rent.

—W. Chapman Wright in the Westminster Review.