Page:Poems of home and country (IA poemsofhomecount01smit).pdf/160

 Methinks as we sit here, now eating, now talking fast,

The shades of the fathers are seen grimly stalking past,

Peering here, peering there, with their ancient eyes critical,

Charging this, charging that, as new-fangled, or mysti cal.

They list to the sound of our steam-engines, clattering;

They hear, in our fountains, the bright water pattering,

They see, in our grounds, fruits and flowers exotical,

And brand our new schemes as insane or quixotical;

Deem some things we do proofs of maddest audacity,

And some, they must own, - showing highest capacity;

Accusing our speeches of bombast and platitude,

As if lack of depth could be made up in latitude.

shades of the fathers, suspend your opinions, do,

Or hasten away to your silent dominions, do!

You judge Time's inventions amiss, from not knowing them,

Like men who judge fruits from the seeds, without sowing them;

We know these new things are too good to dispute on, sirs,

And we're proud of the first city fathers of Newton, sirs.