Grandfather Bridgeman Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B C A DDEFGG A HHIIJJ KKLLMM GHNNHH OPQQRR S LLHH TTHHLL L UVVC L W LLT L XXYZLL L L HHXX L LL HX XXXXA2A2 A B2B2XX C2C2LLXX D2 L LL E2D2F2F2XX L LLLA2

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'Heigh boys ' cried Grandfather Bridgeman 'it's time before dinner to day '-
He lifted the crumpled letter and thumped a surprising 'Hurrah '-
Up jumped all the echoing young ones but John with the starch in his throatB
Said 'Father before we make noises let's see the contents of the note '-
The old man glared at him harshly and twinkling made answer 'Too badC
John Bridgeman I'm always the whisky and you are the water my lad '-
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IIA
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But soon it was known thro' the house and the house ran over for joyD
That news good news great marvels had come from the soldier boyD
Young Tom the luckless scapegrace offshoot of Methodist JohnE
His grandfather's evening tale whom the old man hailed as his sonF
And the old man's shout of pride was a shout of his victory tooG
For he called his affection a method the neighbours' opinions he knewG
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IIIA
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Meantime from the morning table removing the stout breakfast cheerH
The drink of the three generations the milk the tea and the beerH
Alone in its generous reading of pints stood the Grandfather's jugI
The women for sight of the missive came pressing to coax and to hugI
He scattered them quick with a buss and a smack thereupon he beganJ
Diversions with John's little Sarah on Sunday the naughty old manJ
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Then messengers sped to the maltster the auctioneer miller and allK
The seven sons of the farmer who housed in the range of his callK
Likewise the married daughters three plentiful ladies prime cooksL
Who bowed to him while they condemned in meek hope to stand high in his booksL
'John's wife is a fool at a pudding ' they said and the light carts up hillM
Went merrily flouting the Sabbath for puddings well made mend a willM
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The day was a van bird of summer the robin still piped but the blueG
As a warm and dreamy palace with voices of larks ringing thro'H
Looked down as if wistfully eyeing the blossoms that fell from its lapN
A day to sweeten the juices a day to quicken the sapN
All round the shadowy orchard sloped meadows in gold and the dearH
Shy violets breathed their hearts out the maiden breath of the yearH
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VI-
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Full time there was before dinner to bring fifteen of his bloodO
To sit at the old man's table they found that the dinner was goodP
But who was she by the lilacs and pouring laburnums concealedQ
When under the blossoming apple the chair of the Grandfather wheeledQ
She heard one little child crying 'Dear brave Cousin Tom ' as it leaptR
Then murmured she 'Let me spare them ' and passed round the walnuts and weptR
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VII-
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Yet not from sight had she slipped ere feminine eyes could detectS
The figure of Mary Charlworth 'It's just what we all might expect '-
Was uttered and 'Didn't I tell you ' Of Mary the rumour resoundsL
That she is now her own mistress and mistress of five thousand poundsL
'Twas she they say who cruelly sent young Tom to the warH
Miss Mary we thank you now If you knew what we're thanking you forH
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VIII-
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But 'Have her in let her hear it ' called Grandfather Bridgeman elateT
While Mary's black gloved fingers hung trembling with flight on the gateT
Despite the women's remonstrance two little ones lighter than deerH
Were loosed and Mary imprisoned her whole face white as a tearH
Came forward with culprit footsteps Her punishment was to commenceL
The pity in her pale visage they read in a different senseL
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IXL
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'You perhaps may remember a fellow Miss Charlworth a sort of black sheep '-
The old man turned his tongue to ironical utterance deepU
'He came of a Methodist dad so it wasn't his fault if he kickedV
He earned a sad reputation but Methodists are mortal strictV
His name was Tom and dash me but Bridgeman I think you might addC
Whatever he was bear in mind that he came of a Methodist dad '-
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This prelude dismally lengthened till Mary starting exclaimedW
'A letter Sir from your grandson ' 'Tom Bridgeman that rascal is named '-
The old man answered and further the words that sent Tom to the ranksL
Repeated as words of a person to whom they all owed mighty thanksL
But Mary never blushed with her eyes on the letter she sateT
And twice interrupting him faltered 'The date may I ask Sir the date '-
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XIL
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'Why that's what I never look at in a letter ' the farmer repliedX
'Facts first and now I'll be parson ' The Bridgeman women descriedX
A quiver on Mary's eyebrows One turned and while shifting her combY
Said low to a sister 'I'm certain she knows more than we about TomZ
She wants him now he's a hero ' The same resuming her placeL
Begged Mary to check them the moment she found it a tedious caseL
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XIIL
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Then as a mastiff swallows the snarling noises of catsL
The voice of the farmer opened ''Three cheers and off with your hats '-
That's Tom 'We've beaten them Daddy and tough work it was to be sureH
A regular stand up combat eight hours smelling powder and goreH
I entered it Serjeant Major ' and now he commands a saluteX
And carries the flag of old England Heigh see him lift foes on his footX
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XIIIL
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' An officer ay Miss Charlworth he is or he is so to beL
You'll own war isn't such humbug and Glory means something you seeL
'But don't say a word ' he continues 'against the brave French any more '-
That stopt me we'll now march together I couldn't read further beforeH
That 'brave French' I couldn't stomach He can't see their cunning to getX
Us Britons to fight their battles while best half the winnings they net '-
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XIV-
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The old man sneered and read forward It was of that desperate fightX
The Muscovite stole thro' the mist wreaths that wrapped the chill Inkermann heightX
Where stood our silent outposts old England was in them that dayX
O sharp worked his ruddy wrinkles as if to the breath of the frayX
They moved He sat bareheaded his long hair over him slowA2
Swung white as the silky bog flowers in purple heath hollows that growA2
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And louder at Tom's first person acute and in thunder the 'I'A
Invaded the ear with a whinny of triumph that seem'd to defy-
The hosts of the world All heated what wonder he little could brookB2
To catch the sight of Mary's demure puritanical lookB2
And still as he led the onslaught his treacherous side shots he sentX
At her who was fighting a battle as fierce and who sat there unbentX
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''We stood in line and like hedgehogs the Russians rolled under us thickC2
They frightened me there ' He's no coward for when Miss they came at the quickC2
The sight he swears was a breakfast 'My stomach felt tight in a glimpseL
I saw you snoring at home with the dear cuddled up little impsL
And then like the winter brickfields at midnight hot fire lengthened outX
Our fellows were just leashed bloodhounds no heart of the lot faced aboutX
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XVII-
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''And only that grumbler Bob Harris remarked that we stood one to tenD2
'Ye fool ' says Mick Grady 'just tell 'em they know to compliment men '-
And I sang out your old words 'If the opposite side isn't God'sL
Heigh after you've counted a dozen the pluckiest lads have the odds '-
Ping ping flew the enemies' pepper the Colonel roared Forward and weL
Went at them 'Twas first like a blanket and then a long plunge in the seaL
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''Well now about me and the Frenchman it happened I can't tell you howE2
And Grandfather hear if you love me and put aside prejudice now'D2
He never says 'Grandfather' Tom don't save it's a serious thingF2
'Well there were some pits for the rifles just dug on our French leaning wingF2
And backwards and forwards and backwards we went and at last I was vexedX
And swore I would never surrender a foot when the Russians charged nextX
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XIXL
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''I know that life's worth keeping ' Ay so it is lad so it isL
'But my life belongs to a woman ' Does that mean Her Majesty MissL
'These Russians came lumping and grinning they're fierce at it though they are blocksL
Our fellows werA2

George Meredith



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