THE OLD AND THE NEW

The year has past and gone at last,
The parting gave us pain;
But though we sigh for one gone by,
'Twill not return again.
We can't recall, not one, not all
The years that we have known;
They came and went and each was spent,
With good and bad seeds sown.
Then let's not whine nor e'en repine
For joys that might have been;
But with brave heart let each take part
To help his fellow-men.
We must not grieve; but still believe
Time will soon brighter be;
Though we've not met with greatness yet,
There's hopes for you and me.
We'll let the past that's gone at last,
Be lost on memory's track;
We'll live no more the old year o'er,
Nor ever wish it back.
The new year's come and now begun,
So ring, ye merry chimes;
Peal one loud strain of sweet refrain,
And bring us better times.
Let's greet the year with words of cheer,
And new resolves we'll make;
We'll strive with might to do the right,
And duty never shake.
With pages turned and wisdom learned
By mishaps in life's dream;
We'll turn one new for me and you,
And keep it white and clean.
We'll keep it well that it may tell
Our vows were not in vain;
And may each one, when this year's done,
Be raised to higher plane.

PA'S WAYS

My pa, he's got the funniest ways
Of any man whatever I saw!
He's different than ma.
He never thinks same as she does;
But they alus seem to git 'long some way
'Caus ma says fussin' don't pay.
But pa don't b'lieve in women votin';
En he says that ma can't,
En then he says that she shan't!
He says he'd be 'shamed of her;
En says he'd git divorce.
En pa means what he says o' course.
Pa likes to go to church sometimes;
But he don't b'long to any
'Caus there's so awful many,
En nobody knows which one's right.
He says the preachers don't know
Where the folks is goin' to go.
'Caus they's never been there—
He means the place they's preach for,
What they calls the golden shore.
But he says they's doin' lots o' good
En he don't mind givin' 'm money.
En ma says that's what's funny!
But he never minds what she says,
He says woman can't mind her biz!
En I guess he's right, pa is.
But ma b'lieves in woman's rights;
En says a woman kin talk en do,
En that's what she's goin' to.
Pa says if she couldn't talk she'd die!
En he wants her to live long,
So lets her talk on, en on.
But pa can eat more'n she can;
En he likes everything she bakes
Her pies, en pudins, en cakes.
En it keeps her bakin' lots it does.
She says she wishes he wouldn't eat s' much
Of pies, en cakes, en pudins, en such.
He says her cookin's good too,
En it jest gives him a appitite!
Oh, my! pa eats a awful sight.
But he don't care anything 'bout fashion;
He says his is all his own;
En wishes folks 'uld let him 'lone!
He says if folks 'uld pay ther bills
They couldn't wear so much style,
En go to picnics all the while.
He's gittin' older every day, pa is.
En ma says he's funnier, too,
En she don't know what she'll do!
But she never crosses him now;
'Caus she says it never pays
Fer pa—well them's pa's ways.

THE SPIDER AND THE BEE