Classic Poem

" Who 's killed, to-day? "
He asks, in his ancient way;
" And what have they stolen, this time, my lad?
Bad business, my boy, right bad, right bad! "
The pipe — mark it slide
To the other side —
How he puffs it, and whews,
Keeping up with the news!

A character!
When he opens, — " I tell ye, sir,
There 's nothing like knowing cheese from chalk, "
Make ready for none of your modern talk;
Run the text as it may,
He has something to say,
Be you never so clever,
Will squelch you forever.

A grand old man,
Built after the olden plan!
" Nonsense, " he says; " no trouble so tough
But good backbone is doctor enough; "
He 's the heart of the farm,
Still its strong right arm.
How he smiles, how he smokes,
'Twixt the sermons and jokes!