[Illustration: An' nen he peeled off the bark] THE OLD TRAMP [Illustration: The Old Tramp.] A Old Tramp slep' in our stable wunst, An' The Raggedy Man he caught An' roust him up, an' chased him off Clean out through our back lot! An' th' Old Tramp hollered back an' said,-- "You're a _purty_ man!--_You_ air!-- With a pair o' eyes like two fried eggs, An' a nose like a Bartlutt pear!" OLD AUNT MARY'S Wasn't it pleasant, O brother mine, In those old days of the lost sunshine Of youth--when the Saturday's chores were through, And the "Sunday's wood" in the kitchen, too, And we went visiting, "me and you," Out to Old Aunt Mary's? It all comes back so clear to-day! Though I am as bald as you are gray-- Out by the barn-lot, and down the lane, We patter along in the dust again, As light as the tips of the drops of the rain, Out to Old Aunt Mary's! We cross the pasture, and through the wood Where the old gray snag of the poplar stood, Where the hammering "red-heads" hopped awry, And the buzzard "raised" in the "clearing" sky And lolled and circled, as we went by Out to Old Aunt Mary's. And then in the dust of the road again; And the teams we met, and the countrymen; And the long highway, with sunshine spread As thick as butter on country bread, Our cares behind, and our hearts ahead Out to Old Aunt Mary's. [Illustration: We patter along in the dust again] Why, I see her now in the open door, Where the little gourds grew up the sides and o'er The clapboard roof!--And her face--ah, me! Wasn't it good for a boy to see-- And wasn't it good for a boy to be Out to Old Aunt Mary's? And O my brother, so far away, This is to tell you she waits to-day To welcome us:--Aunt Mary fell Asleep this morning, whispering, "Tell The boys to come!" And all is well Out to Old Aunt Mary's. [Illustration: Old Aunt Mary's--Tailpiece] WINTER FANCIES [Illustration: Winter Fancies--Title] I Winter without And warmth within; The winds may shout And the storm begin; The snows may pack At the window pane, And the skies grow black, And the sun remain Hidden away The livelong day-- But here--in here is the warmth of May! [Illustration: Winter without and warmth within] II Swoop your spitefullest Up the flue, Wild Winds--do! What in the world do I care for you? O delightfullest Weather of all, Howl and squall, And shake the trees till the last leaves fall! III The joy one feels, In an easy chair, Cocking his heels In the dancing air That wreathes the rim of a roaring stove Whose heat loves better than hearts can love, Will not permit The coldest day To drive away The fire in his blood, and the bliss of it! IV Then blow, Winds, blow! And rave and shriek, And snarl and snow Till your breath grows weak-- While here in my room I'm as snugly shut As a glad little worm In the heart of a nut!