Where Do You Live

[Shin]

Where Do You Live

I knew a man, and his name was Horner,
He used to live at Grumble Corner,—
Grumble Corner, in Cross Patch Town,—
And he never was seen without a frown.
He grumbled at this, he grumbled at that;
He growled at the dog, he growled at the cat;
He grumbled at morning, he grumbled at night,
And to grumble and growl was his chief delight.

He grumbled so much at his wife, that she
Began to grumble as well as he;
And all the children wherever they went
Reflected their parents' discontent.
If the sky was dark and betokened rain,
Then Mr. Horner was sure to complain;
And if there was never a cloud about,
He'd grumble because of threatened drought.

One day, as I loitered along the street,
My old acquaintance I chanced to meet.
Whose face was without the look of care
And the ugly frown it used to wear.
"I may be mistaken, perhaps," I said.
As, after saluting, I turned my head;
"But it is, and it isn't, the Mr. Horner
Who lived so long at Grumble Corner."

I met him next day, and I met him again,
In melting weather, in pouring rain;
When stocks were up and when stocks were down;
But a smile, somehow, had replac'd the frown.
It puzzled me much, and so, one day,
I seized his hand in a friendly way,
And said "Mr. Horner, I'd like to know
What can have happened to change you so."

He laughed a laugh that was good to hear,
For it told of a conscience calm and clear,
And he said, with none of the old-time drawl,
"Why, I've changed my residence, that is all."
"Changed your residence?" "Yes," said Horner,
"It wasn't healthy at Grumble Corner,
And so I've moved: 'twas a change complete;
And you'll find me now at Thanksgiving Street."

And every day, as I move along
The streets, so filled with busy throng,
I watch each face, and can always tell
Where men, and women, and children dwell.
And many a discontented mourner
Is spending his days at Grumble Corner,
Sour and sad, whom I long to entreat
To take a house in Thanksgiving Street.

[martin]

Brilliant!!

I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to Thee among the nations.
For Thy steadfast love is great to the heavens, Thy faithfulness to the clouds
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Thy glory be over all the earth!  (from psalm 57)

[Patricia]

I like the poem. It's cute. Who wrote it?  Reminds me of ' There was a crooked man who lived in a crooked house'

[Shin]

I like the poem. It's cute. Who wrote it?  Reminds me of ' There was a crooked man who lived in a crooked house'

As far as I know it is anonymous!

But I liked it so here it is! It's for children alright! But for adult children too I think, or adults who need to be more like children! 

Gratitude for God's gifts is the secret to happiness!