The German, The Swede, and The Chinaman

 
(A favorite old joke put to rhyme)

 
The mine boss needed three more men.

Several showed up at the mine.

He saw a big strong German

and said, “You‘ll do just fine.”

 
Your job will be to take a pick

and scale the walls of ore.

The work is hard but you are strong.

You’ll certainly endure.

 
A Swedish man stepped up out front.

“Sir, if you’ll hire me…

You’re sure to get your money’s worth.

I’ll do the work of three.”

 
“You’re hired!”, said the mine boss.

Grab a shovel from the back.

You’ll shovel up the scaled off ore

into the boxcar on the track.

 
With one more left to hire

The boss looked down the rows

and saw a little Chinaman,

all dressed in Chinese clothes.

 
The last job is an easy one,

“Mr. Chinaman , I choose you.

You’ll be in charge of all supplies.

When low, we’ll come to you.”

 
Off they went into the mine

to do as they were told,

A German, Swede, and Chinaman,

into this mine of gold.

 
As supplies needed replenished,

the Chinaman could not be found.

The mine boss went into the mine

to take a look around.

 
Anyone seen the Chinaman?”

The Swede answered, “Ya sure,

The crazy man run down the mine

and no come back no more.”.

 
The boss man, now a bit upset

grabbed a light so he could see,

and through the dark, went deeper in.

Where could this Chinaman be?

 
He’d gone, it seemed, a mile or two

with great concern and fear.

There, hiding around the corner,

The Chinaman sensed him near.

 
He jumped out from his hiding place,

this Chinaman so wise,

and nearly scared his boss to death

when he yelled out….”SA-PLIZE”!