Great-grandfather Green never heard, never seen, An airship, an auto, a talkin'-machine. He plowed with a plow and he hoed with a hoe, And planted potatoes by walkin' a row. For seedin', or thrashin', or breakin' the land, Great-grandfather Green done it mostly by hand. He got up at daylight -- saved daylight before The farmers got mad and the workers got sore. Eight hours was his workday -- from sun until moon -- Eight hours after breakfast, and eight after noon. Yes, years before savin' of daylight we got, Great-granddad already had saved quite a lot. On Sunday there wasn't no golf he could play: He just read the Bible and loafed it away. He played with the children, and talked of the crops, And heard the old organ with numerous stops. Great-grandmother Green couldn't rag "Beulah Land," But Great-grandfather Green thought her playin' was grand. Great-grandfather Green never had, never seen, A tractor, a 'phone, or a mowin'-machine; And yet he was happy -- old letters I find That show him contented in body and mind. Great-grandfather Green lived the regular way, Though he hadn't the things that are common today. Great-grandfather Green has been gone many years. The world is a different world, it appears. I'm glad -- for the world has got better, it has, For people to live in, in spite of the jazz. Great-grandfather Green had his fun, I allow -- But think how much @3more@1 fun he @3could@1 have had @3now@1! |