written by Erastus Johnson (google him and this song title)during the financial panic of 1873 in Carlisle PA at a YMCA convention. Set to music at that convention by William Fisher. The original poem is published in his book of poetry titled, "The Old Cobbler and Other Poems" (1907). Erastus is my g-g-grandfather's brother.

First two verses here are his; rest of verses I've seen posted were written by someone else. His original does have 2 additional verses, but are nothing like what I've read here.
Roberta