From the Rock Island Argus, May 28, 1913. By S. E. Kiser. Pa is feeling rather chipper; every day he wears a smile Though he has no public office and keeps working all the while; They have not increased his wages, and they never will, I guess, But his look is always cheerful and he’s full of hopefulness. His overcoat is seedy and his pants bag at the knees; We are not among the people who can travel overseas; The price of living’s higher than it ought to be, ’tis true, But pa’s clinging to his courage and he takes a hopeful view. The folks next door have lately had to cut expenses down; It seems they’ve been unlucky—it’s the talk all over town; They have sold their new electric—ma pretends it was too bad— So it seems pa needn’t buy one, and it makes him mighty glad.