"Old Putnam Hall I do adore,
And love the place as ne'er before,
The campus, boathouse, fishing pier—
The roads that run from far and near—
Each classroom is a hallowed spot,
Though many lessons are forgot!
The dormitories, bright and clean—
No better rooms were ever seen!
The mess-room, where we gathered oft—"
"To eat our eggs both hard and soft!"
finished up Tom, and then went on:
"The prison wherein I was cast,
And thought that day would be my last,
The teachers sweet and the teachers sour,
And the feasts we held at the midnight hour,
The games of ball we lost and won,
And the jubilees! What lots of fun!
And then the skating on the ice—"
"When we broke in, 'twas not so nice:"
interrupted George Granbury, referring to a calamity the particulars of which have already been related in "The Rover Boys in the Mountains." And then Songbird Powell took up the strain once more:
"I love each corner and each nook,
I love the lake and love the brook,
I love the cedars waving high—"
"And love the dinners with mince pie,"
interrupted Tom once more, and continued:
"In fact, I love it one and all,
There is no spot like Putnam Hall!"