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29
THE BALLAD OF THE GREEN OLD MAN.
It was a balmeous day in May, when spring was springing high,
And all amid the buttercups the bees did butterfly;
While the butterflies were being enraptured in the flowers,
And winsome frogs were singing soft morals to the showers.
And all amid the buttercups the bees did butterfly;
While the butterflies were being enraptured in the flowers,
And winsome frogs were singing soft morals to the showers.
Green were the emerald grasses which grew upon the plain,
And green too were the verdant boughs which rippled in the rain,
Far green likewise the apple hue which clad the distant hill,
But at the station sat a man who looked far greener still.
And green too were the verdant boughs which rippled in the rain,
Far green likewise the apple hue which clad the distant hill,
But at the station sat a man who looked far greener still.
An ancient man, a boy-like man, a person mild and meek,
A being who had little tongue, and nary bit of cheek.
And while upon him pleasant-like I saw the ladies look,
He sat a-counting money in a brownsome pocket-book.
A being who had little tongue, and nary bit of cheek.
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He sat a-counting money in a brownsome pocket-book.
Then to him a policeman spoke, “Unless you feel too proud,
You'd better stow away that cash while you're in this here crowd;
There's many a chap about this spot who'd clean you out like ten.”
“And can it be,” exclaimed the man, “there are such wicked men?
You'd better stow away that cash while you're in this here crowd;
There's many a chap about this spot who'd clean you out like ten.”
“And can it be,” exclaimed the man, “there are such wicked men?
“Then I will put my greenbacks up all in my pocketbook,
And keep it buttoned very tight, and at the button look.”
He said it with a simple tone, and gave a simple smile,—
You never saw a half-grown shad one-half so void of guile.
And keep it buttoned very tight, and at the button look.”
He said it with a simple tone, and gave a simple smile,—
You never saw a half-grown shad one-half so void of guile.
And the bumble-bees kept bumbling away among the flowers,
While distant frogs were frogging amid the summer showers,
And the tree-toads were tree-toadying in accents sharp or flat,—
All nature seemed a-naturing as there the old man sat.
While distant frogs were frogging amid the summer showers,
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All nature seemed a-naturing as there the old man sat.
Then up and down the platform promiscuous he strayed,
Amid the waiting passengers he took his lemonade,
A-making little kind remarks unto them all at sight,
Until he met two travellers who looked cosmopolite.
Amid the waiting passengers he took his lemonade,
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Until he met two travellers who looked cosmopolite.
Now even as the old was green, this pair were darkly brown;
They seemed to be of that degree which sports about the town.
Amid terrestrial mice, I ween, their destiny was Cat;
If ever men were gonoffs, I should say these two were that.
They seemed to be of that degree which sports about the town.
Amid terrestrial mice, I ween, their destiny was Cat;
If ever men were gonoffs, I should say these two were that.
And they had watched that old man well with interested look,
And gazed him counting greenbacks in that brown-some pocket-book;
And the elder softly warbled with benevolential phiz,
“Green peas has come to market, and the veg'tables is riz.”
And gazed him counting greenbacks in that brown-some pocket-book;
And the elder softly warbled with benevolential phiz,
“Green peas has come to market, and the veg'tables is riz.”
Yet still across the heavenly sky the clouds went clouding on,
The rush upon the gliding brook kept rushing all alone,
While the ducks upon the water were a-ducking just the same,
And every mortal human man kept on his little game.
The rush upon the gliding brook kept rushing all alone,
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And every mortal human man kept on his little game.
And the old man to the strangers very affable let slip
How that zealousy policeman had given him the tip,
And how his cash was buttoned in his pocket dark and dim,
And how he guessed no man alive on earth could gammon him.
How that zealousy policeman had given him the tip,
And how his cash was buttoned in his pocket dark and dim,
And how he guessed no man alive on earth could gammon him.
In ardent conversation ere long the three were steeped,
And in that good man's confidence the younger party deeped.
The p'liceman, as he shadowed them, exclaimed in blooming rage,
“They're stuffin' of that duck, I guess, and leavin' out the sage.”
And in that good man's confidence the younger party deeped.
The p'liceman, as he shadowed them, exclaimed in blooming rage,
“They're stuffin' of that duck, I guess, and leavin' out the sage.”
He saw the game distinctly, and inspected how it took,
And watched the reappearance of that brownsome pocket-book,
And how that futile ancient, ere he buttoned up his coat,
Had interchanged, obliging-like, a greensome coloured note.
And watched the reappearance of that brownsome pocket-book,
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Had interchanged, obliging-like, a greensome coloured note.
And how they parted tenderly, and how the happy twain
Went out into the Infinite by taking of the train;
Then up the blue policeman came, and said, “My ancient son,
Now you have gone and did it; say what you have been and done?”
Went out into the Infinite by taking of the train;
Then up the blue policeman came, and said, “My ancient son,
Now you have gone and did it; say what you have been and done?”
And unto him the good old man replied with childish glee,
They were as nice a two young men as I did ever see;
But they were in such misery their story made me cry;
So I lent 'em twenty dollars—which they'll pay me by-and-bye.
They were as nice a two young men as I did ever see;
But they were in such misery their story made me cry;
So I lent 'em twenty dollars—which they'll pay me by-and-bye.
But as I had no twenty, we also did arrange,
They got from me a fifty bill, and gimme thirty change;
But they will send that fifty back, and by to-morrer's train—”
“That note,” out cried the constable, “you'll never see again!”
They got from me a fifty bill, and gimme thirty change;
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“That note,” out cried the constable, “you'll never see again!”
“And that,” exclaimed the sweet old man, “I hope I never may,
Because I do not care a cuss how far it keeps away;
For if I'm a judge of money, and I reether think I am,
The one I shoved was never worth a continental dam.
Because I do not care a cuss how far it keeps away;
For if I'm a judge of money, and I reether think I am,
The one I shoved was never worth a continental dam.
“They hev wandered with their sorrers into the sunny South,
They hev got uncommon swallows and an extry lot of mouth.
In the next train to the North'ard I expect to widely roam,
And if any come inquirin', jist say I ain't at home.”
They hev got uncommon swallows and an extry lot of mouth.
In the next train to the North'ard I expect to widely roam,
And if any come inquirin', jist say I ain't at home.”
The p'liceman lifted up his glance unto the sunny skies,
I s'pose the light was fervent, for a tear were in his eyes,
And said, “If in your travels a hat store you should see,
Just buy yourself a beaver tile and charge that tile to me.”
I s'pose the light was fervent, for a tear were in his eyes,
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Just buy yourself a beaver tile and charge that tile to me.”
While the robins were a-robbing acrost the meadow gay,
And the pigeons still a-pigeoning among the gleam of May,
All out of doors kept out of doors as suchlike only can,
A-singing of an endless hymn about that good old man
And the pigeons still a-pigeoning among the gleam of May,
All out of doors kept out of doors as suchlike only can,
A-singing of an endless hymn about that good old man
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