156 SELECT POETRY

THE OLD MAN’S COMFORTS,
AND HOW HE GAINED THEM.

© You are old, Father William.” the young man
cried,
“The few locks which are left you are grey ;
You are hale, Father William, a hearty old man;
Now tell me the reason, I pray ?”

“In the days of my youth,” Father William
replied,
“J remembered that youth would fly fast,
And abused not my health and my vigour at first,
That [ never might need them at last.”

“You are old, Father William,” the young man
cried,
* And pleasures with youth pass away,
And yet you lament not the days that are gone;
Now tell me the reason, I pray ?

“In the days of my youth,” Father William
replied,
«I remembered that youth could not last;
I thought of the future, whatever I did,
That I never might grieve for the past.”

“You are old, Father William,” the young man
cried,
* And life must be hastening away :
You are cheerful, and love to converse upon death ;
Now tell me the reason, I pray ?”