A Heap O' Livin Part 12

At many a table I have been Where wealth and luxury were seen, And I have dined in halls of pride Where all the guests were dignified; But when it comes to pleasure rare The perfect dinner table's where No stranger's face is ever known: The dinner hour we spend alone, When little girl and little lad Run riot telling things to dad.

{120}

TO-MORROW

He was going to be all that a mortal should be To-morrow.

No one should be kinder or braver than he To-morrow.

A friend who was troubled and weary he knew, Who'd be glad of a lift and who needed it, too; On him he would call and see what he could do To-morrow.

Each morning he stacked up the letters he'd write To-morrow.

And thought of the folks he would fill with delight To-morrow.

It was too bad, indeed, he was busy to-day, And hadn't a minute to stop on his way; More time he would have to give others, he'd say, To-morrow.

The greatest of workers this man would have been To-morrow.

The world would have known him, had he ever seen To-morrow.

But the fact is he died and he faded from view, And all that he left here when living was through Was a mountain of things he intended to do To-morrow.

{121}

A PRAYER

G.o.d grant me kindly thought And patience through the day, And in the things I've wrought Let no man living say That hate's grim mark has stained What little joy I've gained.

G.o.d keep my nature sweet, Teach me to bear a blow, Disaster and defeat, And no resentment show.

If failure must be mine Sustain this soul of mine.

G.o.d grant me strength to face Undaunted day or night; To stoop to no disgrace To win my little fight; Let me be, when it is o'er, As manly as before.

{122}

TO THE LADY IN THE ELECTRIC

Lady in the show case carriage, Do not think that I'm a bear; Not for worlds would I disparage One so gracious and so fair; Do not think that I am blind to One who has a smile seraphic; You I'd never be unkind to, But you are impeding traffic.

If I had some way of knowing What you are about to do, Just exactly where you're going, If I could depend on you, I could keep my engine churning, Travel on and never mind you.

Lady, when you think of turning, Why not signal us behind you?

Lady, free from care and worry, Riding in your plate-gla.s.s car, Some of us are in a hurry; Some of us must travel far.

I, myself, am eager, very, To be journeying on my way; Lady, is it necessary To monopolize the highway?

Lady, at the handle, steering, Why not keep a course that's straight?

Know you not that wildly veering As you do, is tempting fate?

Do not think my horn I'm blowing Just on purpose to hara.s.s you, It is just a signal showing That I'd safely like to pa.s.s you.

Lady, there are times a duty Must be done, however saddening; It is hard to tell a beauty That she's very often maddening.

And I would not now be saying Harsh and cruel words to fuss you, But when traffic you're delaying You are forcing men to cuss you.

{124}

THE MAN WHO COULDN'T SAVE

He spent what he made, or he gave it away, Tried to save money, and would for a day, Started a bank-account time an' again, Got a hundred or so for a nest egg, an' then Some fellow that needed it more than he did, Who was down on his luck, with a sick wife or kid, Came along an' he wasted no time till he went An' drew out the coin that for saving was meant.

They say he died poor, and I guess that is so: To pile up a fortune he hadn't a show; He worked all the time and good money he made, Was known as an excellent man at his trade.

But he saw too much, heard too much, felt too much here To save anything by the end of the year, An' the shabbiest wreck the Lord ever let live Could get money from him if he had it to give.

I've seen him slip dimes to the b.u.ms on the street Who told him they hungered for something to eat, An' though I remarked they were going for drink He'd say: "Mebbe so. But I'd just hate to think That fellow was hungry an' I'd pa.s.sed him by; I'd rather be fooled twenty times by a lie Than wonder if one of 'em I wouldn't feed Had told me the truth an' was really in need."

Never stinted his family out of a thing: They had everything that his money could bring; Said he'd rather be broke and just know they were glad, Than rich, with them pining an' wis.h.i.+ng they had Some of the pleasures his money would buy; Said he never could look a bank book in the eye If he knew it had grown on the pleasures and joys That he'd robbed from his wife and his girls and his boys.

Queer sort of notion he had, I confess, Yet many a rich man on earth is mourned less.

All who had known him came back to his side To honor his name on the day that he died.

Didn't leave much in the bank, it is true, But did leave a fortune in people who knew The big heart of him, an' I'm willing to swear That to-day he is one of the richest up there.

{126}

ANSWERING HIM

"When shall I be a man?" he said, As I was putting him to bed.

"How many years will have to be Before Time makes a man of me?

And will I be a man when I Am grown up big?" I heaved a sigh, Because it called for careful thought To give the answer that he sought.

And so I sat him on my knee, And said to him: "A man you'll be When you have learned that honor brings More joy than all the crowns of kings; That it is better to be true To all who know and trust in you Than all the gold of earth to gain If winning it shall leave a stain.

"When you can fight for victory sweet, Yet bravely swallow down defeat, And cling to hope and keep the right, Nor use deceit instead of might; When you are kind and brave and clean, And fair to all and never mean; When there is good in all you plan, That day, my boy, you'll be a man.

"Some of us learn this truth too late; That years alone can't make us great; That many who are three-score, ten Have fallen short of being men, Because in selfishness they fought And toiled without refining thought; And whether wrong or whether right They lived but for their own delight.

"When you have learned that you must hold Your honor dearer far than gold; That no ill-gotten wealth or fame Can pay you for your tarnished name; And when in all you say or do Of others you're considerate, too, Content to do the best you can By such a creed, you'll be a man."

{128}

FATHER AND SON

Be more than his dad, Be a chum to the lad; Be a part of his life Every hour of the day; Find time to talk with him, Take time to walk with him, Share in his studies And share in his play; Take him to places, To ball games and races, Teach him the things That you want him to know; Don't live apart from him, Don't keep your heart from him, Be his best comrade, He's needing you so!

Never neglect him, Though young, still respect him, Hear his opinions With patience and pride; Show him his error, But be not a terror, Grim-visaged and fearful, When he's at your side.

Know what his thoughts are, Know what his sports are, Know all his playmates, It's easy to learn to; Be such a father That when troubles gather You'll be the first one For counsel, he'll turn to.

You can inspire him With courage, and fire him Hot with ambition For deeds that are good; He'll not betray you Nor illy repay you, If you have taught him The things that you should.

Father and son Must in all things be one-- Partners in trouble And comrades in joy.

More than a dad Was the best pal you had; Be such a chum As you knew, to your boy.

{130}

THE JUNE COUPLE

She is fair to see and sweet, Dainty from her head to feet, Modest, as her blus.h.i.+ng shows, Happy, as her smiles disclose, And the young man at her side Nervously attempts to hide Underneath a visage grim That the fuss is bothering him.