(chip davisbill fries)



She was oldand beautifuland wiseand she taught the young boy everything he needed to know. all about the landand the woods and the riversand what had happened there even before he was

. she taught him what was good and what was bad. and most of allthe difference between right and wrong.



And soevery morning he stood beside his deskwith his hand over his heartand promised to respect her for the rest of his days.



When times were hardand the grain elevators stood empty against the black midwestern skyshe gave him praise for a hard day's workand hope for his father. and she promised there would be be

Days to come.



And he sat by the radio and cried angry tears one gray december daywhen he hear that she'd been betrayed. she was hurt; she needed help. he was only twelvebut he gave her all he could: scrap

Paper and tin cans and even the rubber tires from his wagon. he followed her across the seaon the maps and the newspaperwishing he was olderold enough to fight back.



Then after four longdark yearshe heard the church bells ring and the noon whistle blow long and high. and he was part of one brief moment when all the world paid respect to her.



And then he was grown up; and suddenlythe world had changed. and there were questions about her. some thought she was old-fashioneduseless. some thought she was dead. but then after allmay

Ey hadn't known her as he had.



And now everyone has grown older. the boyhis childrenand she too. he saw her again just the other day: it was one of those brightsummer mornings and the church bells were ringing again. th

Ds were playingand even the noon whistle was blowingearly.



He stood and watched proudly as she passed by. the sunlight catching the flash of crimson and whitestars blazing in the clear blue sky.



And then she was gone.



And he looked down through three generations into his grandson's eyesand said"there she goesson. we used to call her old glory."