Classic Poem

I'M gittin' old — I know, —
It seems so long ago —
So long sence John was here!
He went so young! — our Jim
'S as old now 'most as him, —
Close on to thirty year'!

I know I'm gittin' old —
I know it by the cold ,
From time 'at first frost flies. —
Seems like — sence John was here —
Winters is more severe;
And winter I de-spise!

And yet it seems, some days,
John's here, with his odd ways . . .
Comes soon-like from the corn-
Field, callin' " Mother " at
Me — like he called me that
Even 'fore Jim was born!

When Jim come — La! how good
Was all the neighborhood! —
And Doctor! — when I heerd
Him joke John, kind o' low,
And say: Yes, folks could go —
PA needn't be afeard!

When Jim come, — John says-'e —
A-bendin' over me
And baby in the bed —
And jes' us three, — says-'e
" Our little family! "
And that was all he said . . .

And cried jes' like a child! —
Kissed me again, and smiled, —
'Cause I was cryin' too.
And here I am again
A-cryin', same as then —
Yet happy through and through!

The old home's most in mind
And joys long left behind . . .
Jim's little h'istin' crawl
Acrost the floor to where
John set a-rockin' there . . .
(I'm gittin' old — That's all!)

I'm gittin' old — no doubt —
( Healthy as all git-out!) —
But, strangest thing I do, —
I cry so easy now —
I cry jes' anyhow
The fool-tears wants me to!

But Jim he won't be told
' At " Mother " 's gittin' old! . . .
Hugged me, he did, and smiled
This morning, and bragged " shore "
He loved me even more
Than when he was a child!

That's his way; but ef John
Was here now, lookin' on,
He'd shorely know and see:
" But, " Mother," " s'pect he'd say,
" S'pose you air gittin' gray,
You're younger yet than me ! "

I'm gittin' old, — because
Our young days, like they was,
Keeps comin' back — so clear,
'At little Jim, once more,
Comes h'istin' crost the floor
Fer John's old rockin'-cheer!

...

O beautiful! — to be
A-gittin' old, like me! . . .
Hey, Jim! Come in now, Jim!
Your supper's ready, dear!
(How more, every year,
He looks and acts like him! )