The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-01-04
POetical.
OLD MAN GRAM.
BY J. 7. TRowBRIDGK.

In little Gram Court lives old man Gram,
The patriarch of the place,
Where often youll see his face,
Eager and greedy, peering about,
AS he goes bustling In and out
At wriggling, rlckety pace
Brisk ociogenarian's pace.
He rattes his stick at my heels, and brags,
IS he comes stunning along the the flags
Brags OF his riches and brags OF his rags,
Much work and little play.
you see where am" saw old man Gram
"You see where am to-day
81 came to town at twelve years old,
with a shilling In this ere pocket
You should see him chuckla and knock 1t
"The town to me was hig stout chest,
With fortunes locked in the I'll but guessed
A silver key would unlock it
My little key would unlock It.
found In a rag-shop kept by Jew
A place to sleep and a job to do,
And managed to make my shilling two;
And that's always been my way.
Now see where am" cries old man Gram
"Now see where am to-doy p
In his den a toy OF the butchers shop
lie lies In his lair OF husks
And sups on gruels and russs,
With hardly tooth 10 his tough old Jaw,
But a couple OF curious tusks--
All, picturesque, terrible tusksl
Though half Gram Court he calls his own,
Here boarding his rents, he has lived alone,
Until, like hungry wolf, he has grown
Gaunt and shaggy and gray.
"You see whore l am" growlcd old man Gram,
AS looked In to-day.
"a might have wife to make my broth,
Which would be convenient-rather
And younkers to call me father.
But a wife would be after my chlnk, you see.
And bantlings for them that like :" snars he;
Inever would have the bother
They're an awful expense ana bother!
went to propose at Gfty.four,
But stopped as raised my hand to the door:
TO think Of a dozen brats or more
Says |, ana turned away.
Now see where am, brags old man Gram
"Only see where am to-day
"I had once a niece, who came to town
AS poor as any church <SHpuse;
She wanted to keep my mouse.
Tut have no house to keep go back
gave her dollar, and told her to pack
At which she made such a touse-
You never did see such touse
Whole rows or houses were niue, she said
had more bank shares than hairs in my hend,
And gold like so much iron or lead
All which couldn't gain say,
Men see where ] am, 'grins old man Gram
They see where am to-day.
"But IL there Is any thing detest,
And for which have no occasion,
Sir it is poor relation.
They're alwas plenty and always in need;
Take one, and soon you will have to feed
Just about half the nation
They'll swarm from all over the nation
And have a rule though it's nothing new
IT'S one that learned from my friend the Jew {:
Whatever fancy, whatever do,
always ask, Will 1t pay?
Now see where am" boasts old man Gram
Just see where am to-day!"
The little boys dread his coming tread,
They are pale as he passes by,
And the sauciest ours are shy,
His stick is so thick and he looks so GRIM
Not even beggar will beg Of him;
You should hear him mention whyl
There's a very good reason why,
The poor he hates and he hasn't friend,
And none but foo win give or lend;
For, only begin, therein be no end
That's what always say.
Now see where am" crows old man Gram
"Just see where am today"
Ills misery gain is the harvest grain;
All the rest is chan and stubble;
And the life beyond is bubble
We are as the beasts and he thinks, on the wit
'Tis quite as well that he has no soul,
For that might give him trouble
Might give him a deal OF trouble.
The long and short OF the old mans creed
Is to live for himself and TO feed his greed.
The world is a very good world indeed,
II onlS chap might stay:
"Only stay where am" whines old man Gram
stay Just where am to-day -
TLrrnsr's 1T1oo7tne