Songs by "Pa"

Well-beloved by two generations of boys who call him "Pa" is Dr. Alfred Grosvenor Rolfe. 75-year-old senior master at The Hill School, Pottstown, Pa. "Pa" Rolfe has been at the school 45 years, stepping up whenever needed as acting headmaster. He conducts chapel patriarchally. now teaches only English and Bible since Greek went out of style. The latter subject "Pa" Rolfe has made palatable to many a Hill boy with verses he wrote at odd times concerning Old Testament characters. Now published is a collection of these: Songs of Saints and Sinners.* Explains "Pa" Rolfe in a preface: "Those who chance to read them and find them too familiar, or, perhaps, flippant, will please remember that in the thoughts of the present generation these characters wear no halo. As a matter of fact, many girls and boys of today have never heard of them. They may have Bibles, presented by fond grandmothers, but they do not read them. Most of them have heard of Noah, or, at least, of his ark, and some are vaguely aware of the fact that Moses was 'holy,' but with these two their knowledge ceases." Typical Rolfe "songs": "Methuselah" Methuselah's biography is characterized by brevity. He holds the all-time record for extraordinary longevity. "Elijah the Tishbite" Elijah, the Tishbite, Couldn't make the fish bite; 'Lowed he was using the wrong kind of bait. First tried a dry fly, then tried a wet fly, Then tried a worm and he caught six or eight.

"Benaiah"

This is the story of Benaiah, Valiant son of a valiant si-ah. Hero of a hundred fights, Killed two famous Moabites; Saw a lion in the pit, Went right down and slaughtered it. Killed a giant seven feet tall Whose back was like a city wall. Had a name among the three Mighty men of chivalry. Such is the story of Benaiah, Valiant son of a valiant si-ah.

Vigorously "Pa" Rolfe winds up the story of Jael and Sisera:

She lifted up the hammer, and she smote with might and main And hit the nail and drove it smack through the sleeper's brain. The moral of this story of Sisera and Jael: You can never trust a woman with a hammer and a nail.

Vigorously, if irrelevantly, he speaks of King David's fights, then lists his captains: Sammotli, the Harorite; Helez, the Pelonite; Hezro, the Carmelite; Colo, the Anthracite; Rudo, the Impolite; Booko, the Erudite; And he who gave the foe no rest, Though not the bravest or the best, Stingo, the Skeeterbite.

*Christopher Publishing House, Boston ($1.50).

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