Explore "The Graduate" by Oliver Herford on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"You are old, ‘Father World," cried the Graduate, / "But for one of your age and size, / I feel it is only my duty to state / You _are_ not uncommonly wise."
"I _am_ aged," replied Father World, "it is true.
And not very wise I agree.
Do you think tho' it's fair for a scholar like you / To abuse an old fossil like me?"
Said the youth, "I refer not to college degrees, / Nor dates that one crams in his skull, / I complain not because you are lacking in these, / But because you're so awfully dull!
"I have studied you now I should think more or less / For twenty-one years, and I know / You right through and through, and I can but confess / You are really confoundedly slow."
Said the world, "My dear sir, you are right, there's no crime / Like dullness -- henceforth I will try / To be clever -- forgive me! I'm taking your time, / Perhaps we'll meet later! Good-bye!"
LATER.
"You are cold, Father World, and harden'd forsooth," / Cried the man, "and exceeding wise, / And for any offensive remarks of my youth / I beg to apologize. "