Old man never had much to say--
'Ceptin' to Jim.--
And Jim was the wildest boy he had--
And the old man jes' wrapped up in him!
Never heerd him speak but once
Er twice in my life,--and first time was
When the army broke out, and Jim he went,
The old man backin' him, fer three months;
And all 'at I heerd the old man say
Was jes' as we turned to start away,--
"Well, good-by, Jim:
Take keer of yourse'f!"

'Peared-like, he was more satisfied
Jes' _lookin'_ at Jim
And likin' him all to hisse'f-like, see?
'Cause he was jes' wrapped up in him!
And over and over I mind the day
The old man come and stood round in the way
While we was drillin', a-watchin' Jim--
And down at the deepot a-heerin' him say,
"Well, good-by, Jim:
Take keer of yourse'f!"

Never was nothin' about the _farm_
Disting'ished Jim;
Neighbors all ust to wonder why
The old man 'peered wrapped up in him;
But when Cap. Biggler he writ back
'At Jim was the bravest boy we had