Gran'Ther

" 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!