By which I mean Hosea had some money, and would sign A bond or note for any man who asked him. He'd rent a house and leave it, rent another, Then rent a farm, move out from town and in. He'd have the leases of superfluous places Cancelled some how, was never sued for rent. One time he had a fancy he would see South Africa, took ship with a load of mules, First telegraphing home from New Orleans He'd be back in the Spring. Likewise he went To Klondike with the rush. I think he owned More kinds of mining stock than there were mines. He had more quaint, peculiar men for friends Than one could think were living. He believed In every doctrine in its time, that promised Salvation for the world. He took no thought For life or for to-morrow, or for health, Slept with his windows closed, ate what he wished. And if he cut his finger, let it go. I offered him peroxide once, he laughed. And when I asked him if his soul was saved He only said: "I see things. I lie back And take it easy. Nothing can go wrong In any serious sense." So many thought Hosea was a nut, and others thought, That I was just a nut for liking him. And what would any man of business say If he knew that I didn't ask a question, But simply went with him to take the train That day he asked me. And the train had gone Five miles or so when I said: "Where you going?" Hosea answered, and it made me start— Hosea answered simply, "We are going To see Sir Galahad." It made me start To hear Hosea say this, for I thought He was now really off. But, I looked at him And saw his eyes were sane. "Sir Galahad? Who is Sir Galahad?" Hosea answered: "I'm going up to see Sir Galahad, And sound him out about re-entering The game and run for governor again." So then I knew he was the man our fathers Worked with and knew and called Sir Galahad, Now in retirement fifteen years or so. Well, I was twenty-five when he was famous. Sir Galahad was forty then, and now Must be some fifty-five while I am forty. So flashed across my thought the matter of time And ages. So I thought of all he did: Of how he went from faith to faith in politics And ran for every office up to governor, And ran for governor four times or so, And never was elected to an office. He drew more bills to remedy injustice, Improve the courts, relieve the poor, reform Administration, than the legislature Could
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