129

GOD'S MERCY 130

CHRISTMAS GREETING 131

TO RUDYARD KIPLING 132

THE GUDEWIFE 133

TENNYSON 134

ROSAMOND C. BAILEY 135

MRS. BENJAMIN HARRISON 136

GEORGE A. CARR 138

TO ELIZABETH 139

TO ALMON KEEFER 140

TO--"THE J. W. R. LITERARY CLUB" 142

LITTLE MAID-O'-DREAMS 143

TO THE BOY WITH A COUNTRY 145

CLAUDE MATTHEWS 146

TO LESLEY 147

THE JUDKINS PAPERS 148

TO THE QUIET OBSERVER--ERASMUS WILSON 165

AMERICA'S THANKSGIVING 166

WILLIAM PINKNEY FISHBACK 168

JOHN CLARK RIDPATH 170

NEW YEAR'S NURSERY JINGLE 173

TO THE MOTHER 174

TO MY SISTER 175

A MOTTO 176

TO A POET ON HIS MARRIAGE 177

ART AND POETRY 178

HER SMILE OF CHEER AND VOICE OF SONG 179

OLD INDIANY 180

ABE MARTIN 183

O. HENRY 185

"MONA MACHREE" 186

WILLIAM MCKINLEY 187

BENJAMIN HARRISON 190

LEE O. HARRIS 192

THE HIGHEST GOOD 194

MY CONSCIENCE 195

MY BOY 197

THE OBJECT LESSON 198

THE OLD SOLDIER'S STORY

AS TOLD BEFORE THE NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY IN NEW YORK CITY

Since we have had no stories to-night I will venture, Mr. President,
to tell a story that I have heretofore heard at nearly all the
banquets I have ever attended. It is a story simply, and you must bear
with it kindly. It is a story as told by a friend of us all, who is
found in all parts of all countries, who is immoderately fond of a
funny story, and who, unfortunately, attempts to tell a funny story
himself--one that he has been particularl