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

SOUTHEY.

“Yoo are old, father William,” the young man cried,
“The few locks that are left you are gray ;

Youare hale, father William, a hearty old man ;
‘Now tell me the reason, I'pray.”

“Tn the days of my youth,” fathor William replied,
“I remembered that youth would fiy fast;

And abused not my health and my vigour at first,
That I 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 tho 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.”

“Tam cheerful, young man,” father William replied,
“Let tho cause thy attention engage ;

In the days of my youth I remembered my God,
‘And he hath not forgotten my age.”

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