Poetry · Chapter
Frederick D. Countiss explained
A humorous limerick about Frederick D.
What happens
A humorous limerick about Frederick D. Countiss, a banker and broker in Chicago, suggesting that his charitable giving might be excessive and incurable.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because the speaker confronts the painful realization that his child’s lov…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Money and Materialism
The limerick contrasts wealth ('jack') with charitable giving, highlighting a tension between financial prudence and generosity.
- Humor and Satire
The limerick uses wit and rhyme to poke fun at the banker's philanthropic habits, suggesting it is a humorous ailment.
Characters to notice
- Frederick D. Countiss
The subject of the limerick, a banker and broker in Chicago known for his charitable donations.
Key passages
“He’d have much more jack, I am sure, If he gave much less jack to the poor”
He would be wealthier if he donated less money to the poor.
The core joke of the limerick: his generosity is seen as a financial flaw.
“A disease of this sort May not cut life short, But I’m told there’s no permanent cure.”
This habit of giving is not fatal, but it is incurable.
The punchline likens his charitable nature to a chronic disease.
