THE TOWN CLOCK GIVES ADVICE TO THE TOURIST.
If you walk on Main Street,
Turn your fancy loose,
Out of lace and lacquer
You may pick and choose;
Poetry of race and clan,
Demure maid and solemn man,
All the lore is stored away
In these houses brick and grey.
Puritan and worldly wise
Trod these stones that meet your eyes;
Hoary old aristocrats,
Old chairs, parrots, lace and cats;
Old umbrellas, ivory canes,
Whale and ship for weather vanes;
Soldiers’ Monument and bank,
Shops and studios in rank;
New sails spread or old sails furled....
Main Street’s where you meet the World!
If you turn in Salem Street,
Better have a care;
The Law is on your left
And the red jail is there.
They don’t burn witches
But you’d better beware!
If you walk on Whale Street,
Roll some in your gait;
Make believe that caravels
For your coming wait;
Square-rigged and clipper-built,
Wind jammer and schooner,
Will bear you off on cruises
If not later, sooner!
On North Water Street
Salt creeps into speech;
Looking down the little lanes
You will see the beach.
All along North Water Street,
Please to make a note,
All that’s worth saying
Is said about a boat.
If you walk on Milk Street,
Keep your wits about you;
Don’t let any saucy star
On Vestal Street scout you.
Curtsey to the Old Mill,
Snatch a rose from arbor;
Milk Street’s a nice street
To come in harbor.
If you walk through Pleasant Street,
You are sure to see
Many brilliant knockers
Shine reflectingly;
Gardens full of spicy bloom,
And real ladies taking tea.
If you go through Orange Street,
You will have a glance
At Japanese poetry
And English romance;
You’ll smell paint, hear some radio,
And see among the wise
A scholar with a Christian’s face,
And two great grey eyes.
If you walk through Centre Street,
You will surely meet
A true, true, woman
With voice and manner sweet;
And there the windows fairly talk,
And the fences are so neat.
If you walk through Lily Street
The sunset’s at the end
Honeysuckle claims you
Like an old friend;
And quaintly blocked upon the skies
Old houses on “Gull Island” rise.