"THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET" 117 



poem will outlast that, not for its singing quality 

 which early caused it to be set to music that has 

 lived along with the words, though that might 

 well justify a green old age ; not for its beauty of 

 diction or its purity of thought, but because it 

 voices a sentiment that the whole of humanity 

 understands and approves. None so proud and 

 none so mean but he knows the taste of that 

 draught of cool water and the gratitude it in- 

 spires. To lean over the curb of the pioneer's 

 well is to see your own face reflected as if with 

 that of all mankind in a little circle that is the 

 counterpart of the sky overhead. And out of the 

 blue depths shines the gratitude of all mankind for 

 thirst well quenched. Adam, or whatever the first 

 man was called, thus gave thanks on his knees for 

 a first draught from some clear spring and saw 

 the sky reflected as he did so. Even the thoughts 

 which " Home, Sweet Home " inspires do not go 

 quite so far back to the beginnings of the race, nor 

 is that song any more likely to live to remote times 

 than is " The Old Oaken Bucket." 



