Lines On A.b

Who was expected to attend a Banquet given by the Odd fellows
in London nearly thirty years ago. Several of the London Brethern
were asking for Brother Abel.

When we went down to London in midst of the champaign
A brother looked at me as though I had been Cain,
And in a voice of thunder, as I sat at the table,
He fiercely asked of me 'where is your Brother Abel?'
To which I did reply 'I'm not my brother's keeper,
But at home you'll find him, in his bed asleep, sir.'