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Edgar Guest - Father
Work rating: Medium

Used to wonder just why father 
Never had much time for play, 
Used to wonder why he`d rather 
Work each minute of the day. 
Used to wonder why he never 
Loafed along the road an` shirked; 
Can`t recall a time whenever 
Father played while others worked. 

Father didn`t dress in fashion, 
Sort of hated clothing new; 
Style with him was not a passion; 
He had other things in view. 
Boys are blind to much that`s going 
On about `em day by day, 
And I had no way of knowing 
What became of father`s pay. 

All I knew was when I needed 
Shoes I got `em on the spot; 
Everything for which I pleaded, 
Somehow, father always got. 
Wondered, season after season, 
Why he never took a rest, 
And that I might be the reason 
Then I never even guessed. 

Father set a store on knowledge; 
If he`d lived to have his way 
He`d have sent me off to college 
And the bills been glad to pay. 
That, I know, was his ambition: 
Now and then he used to say 
He`d have done his earthly mission 
On my graduation day. 

Saw his cheeks were getting paler, 
Didn`t understand just why; 
Saw his body growing frailer, 
Then at last I saw him die. 
Rest had come! His tasks were ended, 
Calm was written on his brow; 
Father`s life was big and splendid, 
And I understand it now.
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