A list of calls upon his slate has little effect to raise his
spirits. "All work and no pay," he mutters to himself, as he puts on
his dressing-gown and slippers; and, throwing himself upon the
lounge, turns a deaf ear to the little ones, while he indulges in a
revery as to the best mode of paying the doctor.
KEEP IN STEP.
Those who would walk together must keep in step.
--OLD PROVERB.
AY, the world keeps moving forward,
Like an army marching by;
Hear you not its heavy footfall,
That resoundeth to the sky?
Some bold spirits bear the banner--
Souls of sweetness chant the song,--
Lips of energy and fervour
Make the timid-hearted strong!
Like brave soldiers we march forward;
If you linger or turn back,
You must look to get a jostling
While you stand upon our track.
Keep in step.
My good neighbour, Master Standstill,
Gazes on it as it goes;
Not quite sure but he is dreaming,
In his afternoon's repose!
"Nothing good," he says, "can issue
From this endless moving on;
Ancient laws and institutions
Are decaying, or are gone.
We are rushing on to ruin,
With our mad, new-fangled ways."
While he speaks a thousand voices,
As the heart of one man, says--
"Keep in step!"
Gentle neighbour, will you join us,
Or return to "_good old ways?_"
Take again the fig-leaf apron
Of Old Adam's ancient days;--
Or become a hardy Briton--
Beard the lion in his lair,
And lie down in dainty slumber
Wrapped in skins of shaggy bear,--
Rear the hut amid the forest,
Skim the wave in light canoe?
Ah, I see! you do not like it.
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