The men were quite cocky as they stood in the sun “Let’s go to the city, stock up and have fun We’ll buy by the case all under one roof And save lots too, of that we have proof." So they did just that for many a year And from the results never took any fear Until one day they met once again Standing uptown just out of the rain.
"What's happened here?" cried one in dismay; Their faces were ashen, they had much to say.
Then one scratched his head, the other said loud “There’s no beer and no coffee, not even a crowd; My wife is real sick and right off her feet; I came for some drugs, some milk and some meat.
The hospital is closed, the grocery stores too.
What in the world are we going
to do?" "My furnace is shot and the plumb -
ing all broken."
The other one gasped, I thought
he was chokin'.
My car's a near wreck and my tires are low, I need nails and lumber, and there’s no place to go."
His friend had his head right down to his chest "We're to blame," he muttered, "on our heads it does rest.
We passed this town for the glimmer of lights Bought stuff by the carload and
took in the sights.
The city is bustling and bursting with pride, While all our own merchants just up and died.
The houses are empty, the bank’s repossessed.
I’ll tell you, old boy, we’re in for a test."
“We should have been smarter and wiser," they said
“Then the town would be bustling, not half so dead." "It's never too late, we've learned," someone did say.
But for the foolishness of many they'd all have to pay.
They parted at last as the wind turned cold.
And muttered, "Buy locally, as this story is told."
————— (Reprinted from the Cando (ND) Record Herald)
