The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-04-19
Poor Old Joe.
By +. 3. GAGE,

Dl L. b NibT.
In the winter Of 1870 the writer of the fol-
lowing poem was induced to 90 South for
! the benefit of his health, being threatened by
that fell destroyer, consumption. In the little
town of Mandarin, on the st Johns river IN
Florida, the most Of the winter was spent in
hunting, fishing and the like amusements.-
During one of his rambles in the forest, while
accompanied by two Northern gentlemen and
one Southern, they came across a decayed
cabin about half a mile from the village
What was their surprise on passing it to see
very old negro lying on a few ragged mats
that were spread on the ground, evidently in
the last stages Of some disease. There was
no door to the cabin, neither windows, nor
tire, nor any one near. We euquired the
meaning Of this and were tod by the South
ern gentleman that this was "Summers' OLD
negro, Joe" He was,oo old 20 work and was
sick with the dropsy. They had brought
him out here and left him. His food was
brought to him three times day, which was
all the care the poor old man received. The
remainder of the sad history is continued in
the poem
He was icf, on The rags tha, were spread or the
ground.
Where TIE winds through the desol4tc cabin
could blow
His labors were ended, and why should they care
For the now useless carcass Of poor old Joe
ioor old Joe poor old joe
lie could hoe the cotton and cane 10 more
So they carried him into the forest to die
In the desolate hove without 4 floor
| he rain could beat through in its wiu,ry wrath
On his thin scattered locks, which were white
the SNOW;
He was getting too old, so il never would paw.
10 nurse up the carcass of poor old Joe.
Poor old joe &c.
His wife and his children we've sold from his home
By his cold, cruel masters, long, long ago,
And now in the last wear hours of his life,
poor Joe.
Poor old Joe. &c.
And the windS howled and rav-d like the de
mons below.
On the wings Of that tempest went up from this
earth
Tb. ,rc,,v ,pl enul of ro,r L.
Poor old Joe. &c
None could tell at what hour OF the might time
he died;
He was dead in the morning. It's all that they
Ard none but the mighty, none bu, the great God
And His angels were near at the death of pcoi
Joe.
Poor old Joe. &c.
In the morning two settlers came into The town
And this is the news which they happened tc
know
Pete and Riker are over in Anderson woods,
Where they're going to be digging pit for old
Joe.
Poor old Joe. &C.
SO into that pit, near the edge OF the wood,
With no sign OfcompaSSion on nor coffin nor show
With IS little conjunction as though twerc
,winc'S.
1hcy tumblCd the carcass Of poor old Joe.
I Poor old Joe, &c.
And they covered it up with indeccncvs haste.
While they talked OF the race between HARTLEY
ard SlOe.
And they heedlessly trod the cold dust on tn,
breast
OF the now lifclcss carcass of poor old joe
Poor old Joe. &c.
We stood midst the pine trees and witnes ed thu
And said, "Therc'S Heaven of rest for poo
joe
But there's nothing like rest that shall enter i'll
To that He'll where such numbering monste,
shall GO
Poor old Joe, &c.
If lie dwelt i'll the bondage for eighty long years
And was faithful to masters that treated him 50
Has he not in the realms of the Master of if
Found gl0rihed crown was awaiting poor Joe
Poor old Joe. &c.
And | made me in that sorrowful hour.
A vow that my God and His angels all know
Nv tongue shall not cease to condemn the grca
wrongs
That are hcaped on the kindred and race G
poor Joe.
Poor old Joe. &c.