I’ll bring the wood and coal in, when I come home from school,
And go down to the spring and bring the water cool;
I’ll milk the cow, and feed the pigs, as father used to do;
I know he’ll say, when he gets back, “My son, I’m proud of you.”
Two miles to walk to school ’twill mean an early rise;
Folks seem to say I’m small yet—but work, I don’t despise;
Before Dad went away, he laid his hand upon my head,
“My son, take care of mother, sister Lillian and Fred.”
I’m glad I have a father, that is so brave and strong,
I’m going to be like him, the time will not be long;
I will not be a slacker, I’ll do all that I can;
It never will be my fault if I don’t grow up a man.
An Old Clock.
I’m an old wooden clock, on the mantel I stand,
Pointing the hours with my slender hand;
Tick-tock I say, all day and all night through,
If you’ll wind me I’ll even waken you;
I never smile, I look always the same,
For I’m caged up in this old wooden frame.
I keep on going, year in and year out,
For I know just what I am about;
It’s not much time that you give me to wind me,
But that I demand, I’ll not run till you wind me,
For I can be just as still—not a sound
Will escape me until with the key I am wound.
You must handle me gently, I am easily shaken,
If you don’t I to the clocksmith must be taken;
I’m heavy, even though I’m not very large,
For the larger the clock, the smaller the charge;
And the times are quite hard, at least so they say,
I work for love of you, but folks work for pay.
My springs are the finest of steel from the north,
From the mountains of Norway I was brought forth;
The fjords of that country for centuries have washed me,
Till I’m the bluest of steel, none better there can be;
How I came out here, I can guess, I suppose,
And I have been faithful, as everyone knows.
And this wooden frame, from a far away land,
Is from the black forests, so stately and grand,
And carved in old Switzerland, so now you can see
I’m really as costly as I can be;
And, with your consent, on this mantel I’ll stand,
And solemnly point the hours with my slender hand.