When Pa Was My Age

From the Rock Island Argus, February 5, 1913.
 By S. E. Kiser.
 

 When pa was my age he was glad
     To do just as they told him
 He never made his parents sad
     They never had to scold him.
 He never, never disobeyed
     Nor punched his little brother
 And day and night he always made
     Things pleasant for his mother.
 
 When pa was my age he would clean
     His shoes when they were muddy.
 He never thought his folks were mean
     Because they made him study.
 He always tried his best to be
     For goodness celebrated
 And he was praised by all—but, gee!
     How pa’s degenerated!