Story-Time

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  "TELL us a story," comes the cry
  From little lips when nights are cold,
  And in the grate the flames leap high.
  "Tell us a tale of pirates bold,
  Or fairies hiding in the glen,
  Or of a ship that's wrecked at sea."
  I fill my pipe, and there and then
  Gather the children round my knee.

  I give them all a role to play--
  No longer are they youngsters small,
  And I, their daddy, turning gray;
  We are adventurers, one and all.
  We journey forth as Robin Hood
  In search of treasure, or to do
  Some deed of daring, or of good,
  Our hearts are ever brave and true.

  We take a solemn oath to be
  Defenders of the starry flag;
  We brave the winter's stormy sea,
  Or climb the rugged mountain crag,
  To battle to the death with those
  Who would defame our native land;
  We pitch our camp among the snows
  Or in the tropics burning sand.

  We rescue maidens, young and fair,
  Held captive long in prison towers;
  We slay the villain in his lair,
  For we're possessed of magic powers.
  And though we desperately fight,
  When by our foes we are beset,
  We always triumph for the right;
  We have not lost a battle yet.

  It matters not how far we stray,
  Nor where our battle lines may be,
  We never get so far away
  That we must spend a night at sea.
  It matters not how high we climb,
  How many foes our pathway block,
  We always conquer just in time
  To go to bed at 9 o'clock.

© Edgar Albert Guest