The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-09-01
The Grandmother's Apology.
BY ALFRED rESsrsoN.

Ana w my, my eiuest oofn, - gone, you say little
Annie?
.Ruddy and white and strong en- his legs, he looks
4 like aman; sa& 80 = s.,-sss =
Aud WHY'S wife has written she never was over
Never the wife for Willy: he wouldn't take my
4 advice cs .ss
| @ st sss4 H. =. sseA - g.
For, Annie, you see, her father not the man to
/ save
Hadn't head to manage, and drank himself into
b his grave is--7.rt5sa s-..-s ~ saF
Pretty enough very pretty. but was against it
for one
Eh but he wouldn't hear sme--and Willy, you
/ - say, is gone zs1&siEs- f7ls
| GsgE. 81 III. 7.-ru ersea --4sfaz J:
Willy, my beauty, my eldest boy, the flower of the
flock: 49, 1e
Never man could fling him, for Willy stood like
Here's leg for a babe of week." says doctor
and he would be bound @a
There was not his hike that year in twenty parishes
| round.
Strong of his hands and strong his legs but still
of his tonguel ss s g .l.tt-
ought to have gone before him: wonder he
| went young.
stay; p. s es |
Perhaps shall see him the sooner for he lived so
| far away.
Why do you look at me, Annie ? you think am
s hard and cold; % .l.s. s,-- = --,.
But all my children have gone before me, am
old:
I cannot weep for Willy, nor can weep for the
rest;
Only at your age, Annie, could have wept with
| the best. s.s
Fer remember quarrel 1 had with your father,
| my dear, .st -s.
All fo- slandrous story, that cost me many
mean your grandfather, Annie: it cost me a
world of woe,
Seventy years ago, my darling, seventy years ago.
~ - W.
For Jenny, my cousin, had come to the place, and
knew right well 80. -.
That Jenny had tripped in her time: knew, but
/ would not tell.
And she to be coming and slandering me, the base
! little liar.
But the tongue is fire, as you know my dear, the
| tongne is fire.
And the parson made it his text that week, and he
said, likewise,
I;a half tbe ekpSt
of lies:
That lie which is all lie may be met and fought
with outright,
But lie which is part truth is harder matter
| to fight.
And VIII Lad not been down to the farm for week
ard day;
middle of May.
Jenny to SANDER me, who knew what Jenny had
- been!
But soilng another, Annie, will never make one
self clean.
And cried myself welLnigh blind, and all for an
evening late @
| climed to the top of the garth and stood by the
road at the gate.
The moon, like rick on fire, was rising over the
! dale,
And whit, whit, whit, in the bush beside me CHR
/ rupt the nightingale.
All of sudden he stopt: there past by the gate Of
=. the farm, 5 s5 sa
Wlly-he didn't see me--and Jenny hung on his
| arm,
Out into the road started, and spoke scarce
/ know how: Tl,
Alb, there's no fool like the old one--it makes me
angry now.
Willy stood up like man. and looked the thing
that he ment;
Jenny, the viper made me mocking courtsey
4 and went. - --' ~s'
And said, 'Let us part; in hundred years it'll
4 be all the same:
You cannot love me at all, if you love not my good
\ name"
And he turned, and saw his eyes all wet, in the
sweet moonshine;
s'Sweetheart, love you well that your good
f
And what do care for Jane, let her speak of you
T. well or i'll: -
But marry me out Of hand; We two shall be happy
4 l5es stil'' ~ sF san F1s hf
+ .sos1 sa XIV. ~ srS
" Marry you, Willy" said !, '.butI needs must
speak my mind
fear you will listen to tales be jealous and hard,
and unkind." 9+
But he turned and claspt me in his arms, and an
I swered ''No love, MOI"
Seventy years ago, my darling, seventy years ago.
So Willy and l were welded; L wore lilac
gown;
And the ringers rang with will and he gave the
ringers a crown. q
But the first that ever bore was dead before he
4 was born,
Shadow and shine is life, little Annie. flower and
That was the first time, too that ever thought of
death.
There lay the sweet little body that never had
i tseI drawn breath ia tslsc1es eft-
I had not wept little Annie, not since had been
awife;
But I wept like child that day, for thebabe had
! : fought for his life. RS n.1E -
i - .sf2 XVII s& tN