Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-05-16
e TR Y.
The Atlantic Monthly for March.
zE vAGAwONDs.

NE vAGABoNDs.
:, Ms.lers, Roger and 7.
dy dog,-Como here, you scamp!
Q gentleman--mind your eye
table-look ont for the lamp!
s growing little old;
cars we've rsmped through wind and
Gather,
1t outdoors when nights were cold,
ste md drank---and sarved--togcther.
learned what comfort is tell you
on the 1oor. bit of rosin
o thaw our thumbs, (poor fellow
paw he holds up there's been frozen)
Of catgui for my fiddle
outdoor business is bad for srings)
few nice buckwheats hot from the griddic,
Roger and set up for kings.
kye, Sir,--I never drink
= and / are exceedingly moral
hren 4 we. Roger See him wink
Well something hot then,-we won't quarrel.
Hes thirsty. tco--sce him nod his head ?
What pity, Sir, that dogs can't talk
lie understands every word that's said
And he knows good milk from water and chalk.
The truth is Sir, now reflect
I've been so sadly given TO grog,
! wonder I've not lost the respect
Heres to you Sir y even Of my dog.
But he sticks by. through thick and thin
And this old cont. with its empty pockets
And rags that smell of tobacco and gin,
lie II follow while he has eyes in his sockets
There isn't another creature living
Would do 1t, and prove, through cVcry disaster,
So fond, faithful. and 80 torgiving,
To such miserable thanlllcss master
No, Sir see him wug his tail and grin
BY George it makes my old eyes water
That IL, there's something in this gin
That chokcs fellow. But no matter
Wen have some music, il you're willing,
And Roger (hem! what plague cough is, Sir }
Shall march little.---Start, you villain
Stand straight Bout face Salute your officer!
Put up that paw Dress Take your rifle A.!
hold
Cap while the gentleman gives tritle,
10 aid poor old patriot soldier
March Halt Now show how the rebel shakes,
When he stands up to hear his sentence.
Now tell US how many drains it takes
To honor jolly new acquaintance.
Five yelps,-thats five; he's mighty knowing!
The night is before US, fill the glasses
Quick, Sir I'm ll,-my brain is going
Some brandy,-thank you,-there 1T passes
Why not reform That's easily said
But I've gone through such wretched treatment,
Sometimes forgetting the taste of bread,
And scarce remembering what meat meant
That my poor stomach s past reform;
And there are times when, mad with thinking,
I'd sell out heaven for something warm
To prop horrible inward sinking.
Is there way to forget to think
At your age, Sir, homc fortune, friends,
A dear girls love, but took to drink -
The same old story you know how it ends.
1fyou could have seen these classic features
You needn't laugh Sir; they were not then
Such burning libel on God creatures:
was one your handsome men!
If you had seen HER, so fair and young,
Whose head was happy this breast
If you could have heard the songs that sung
When the wine went round you wouldn't have
guessed
That ever l. Sir, should be straying
From door to door, with fiddle and dog
Ragged and penniless. and playing
To you tonight for glass of grog
She's married siace-a parsons wife;
Twas better for her that we should part
Better the soberest, prosicst life
Than blasted home and broken heart
! have seen her? Once was weak and spent
On the dusty road carriage stopped
But little did she dream, on she went,
Who kissed the coin that her fingers dropped!
You've set mo talking Sir; I'm sorry;
1t makes me wild to think of the changei
What do you care for bcggar's story?
Is it amusing? You find it strange?
had mother so proud of me
Twas well she died before Do you know
If the happy spirits in heaven can see
The ruin and wretchedness here below
And glass and strong to dcGden
This pain then Roger and will start.
Iwcndor has he such lumpsh leaden,
Aching thing, in place Of heart?
lie is sad sometimes, would weep, if he could,
No doubt. remembering things that were,-
A virtuous kennel, with plenty Of food
And himself a SOBER respectable cur.
I'm better now that glass was warming
You rascal timber your lazy feet
We must be fddling and performing
For supper and bed or starve in The street
Not very gay life to lead you think!
But soon we shall go where lodgings are free
And the sleepeTs need neither yictuds or drink -
The sooner the better for Roger and me!