Walking With Dad

 Walking With Dad

Oft' Dad would walk with other men,

When I was but a lad.

Sometimes he'd say, "You too may run along."

And I would follow close behind,

To hear grown up talk I could not understand;

And wonder if Dad would miss me,

If I turned back home again.

Another day we'd walk alone.

And if the way was rough or steep or long,

He'd take me by the hand,

And then it would be easy.

He'd show me things in field and stream,

On hills and in the sky,

I'd never noticed, though oft' I'd passed them by.

As time went on, I walked again with Dad.

Step by step in manhood's strength;

We talked of other things,

Of work, and toil, and labors;

Of life's hopes, and aims and failures.

And I took the measure of the man,

And came to know the wisdom of his years.

At last I slowly walked with Dad.

Leaning on staff he paused,

To gaze upon the distant scene,

And speak of friends and loved ones

Who lived and died er'e I was born.

Twas then I knew myself forgotten,

As he recalled those days of yore.

Many years have passed,

And Dad now walks with God,

As Enoch did of old.

And I, if true and faithful,

Someday may follow on,

And catch some words of heavenly conversation,

As we walk the streets of gold.

A. J. P.