University of Virginia Library

GRANDFATHER'S BOY.

When some tall sage, revered and gray,
Prolongs his late and lingering stay,
What reverent eyes upon him turn!
How from his lips we love to learn
The legends of the olden time,
When the deep wood was in its prime,
And when, as fancy paints the view,
All was heroic, bold, and new!
What though the gray old man may stride
Some hobby now and then, and ride
Full tilt against this generation,
Preaching the downfall of the nation?
Still, still, we love to hear him tell
Of wile and war with savage fell,
Of bristling bears that bounded by
And looked lone travellers in the eye;
Of panthers stealing o'er the wold,
And hungry wolves that sought the fold.
And how around his aged knees,
At winter eve will childhood squeeze,
And beg with many an earnest dun,
To hear of war and Washington!
How will the favorite grandson climb
And claim his seat at such a time,
And list intently to the tale,
With wondering eye and cheek all pale—
Though he perchance can only sift
From look and tone the story's drift.
How on the morrow will that boy,
With swelling thought resign his toy,
Steal the cocked hat, and on his nose,
The reverend spectacles impose,
Mount to the vacant chair, and place
The wise gazette before his face,
And there, half sly, half serious pore
The last night's legend o'er and o'er,
And deem himself in boyish glory,
The gray haired hero of the story!