Show THE KNOCKERS PRAYER lord please dont let this town grow ive been here for thirty years and during that time ive fought every public ment ive knocked everything and everybody no firm or individual has established a business here without my doing all I 1 could to put them out of business ive lied about them and would have stolen from them if I 1 had had the courage I 1 have done all I 1 could to keep the town from growing and never have spoken a good word for it ive knocked hard and often ive put ashes on the childrens slide and ive made the marshal stop the boys playing ball on my vacant lot whenever I 1 saw anyone prospering or enjoying themselves ive started a reform to kill the business or spoil the fun I 1 dont want the young folks to stay in this town and I 1 will do all I 1 can by law rule or ordinance to drive them away it pains me 0 lord to see that in spite of my knocking it is beginning to be called upon to put down sidewalks in front of my property and who knows but what I 1 may have to keep oil boll on the streets that run by my premises this lord would be more than I 1 could bear it would cost me money though all I 1 have was made right her in this town then too more people might come if the town begins to grow which would cause me to lose some of my pull I 1 ask theofore ther fore to keep this at a standstill that I 1 may continue to be the chief knocker amen ex di |