Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-07-14
poetry,
over the Hin to the Poor-House.
BY WILL NJ. CARLTON,

over the Hill 10 the IoOr-hOuse'
BY WILL NJ. CARLTON,
Over the hill to the poor house I'm trudgin' my
|, woman Of seventy, and only trino gray
|, who am smart an clipper, for all theyears I've
told.
As many another woman that's only half as old,
Over the hill to the poor house-I can't quite make
il clear!
over the hill to the poor houseit seems so horrid
queer!
Many . step I've taken toilin' to and fro,
But this is sort of Journey never thought to 60
What is the use ofheapin' on me a paupei s shame2
Am l lazy or crazy am blind or lame?
True. I'm not so supple, nor yet SO awful stout;
But charity aint no favor, if one can live without
am willin' and anxious an ready any day
To work for decent liyin, an pay my honest way;
For l. can earn my victuas, an more too, Ill be
bound
Ifanybody only is wiin' to have meround,
Once was young and hand dsome-I was, upon my
Once my cheeks was roses my eyes as black as coal
And can't remember in them days of hearin' peo-
For any Kind of reason, that was in their way.
"Taint no use of boastin', or talkin' over free
But many house an home was open then TO me-
Many handsome offer had from likely men.
Andnobody ever hinted that was burden then
And when to John was married, sure he was good
and smart,
But he and all the neighbors would own done my
For lie was all before me. an I was young an
And worked the best that could in tryin to get
along.
And so we worked together; and life was hard, but
With now and then a baby for to cheer US on our
Till we had half dozen, an all growed clean an
neat,
An went to school like others, an had enough to
eat.
So we worked for the ehildr and raised them every
Worked for en- summer and winter, just as we
Only pefhaps we humored 'en, which some good
But every couples ohiIdrns heap the best to
them.
Strange how much we think of our blessed little
I'd have died for my daughters, I'd have died for
And God he made that rule oflove; but when we're
cid and gray.
I've noticed it sometimes somehow fails to work
the other way.
And when exceptin' Charley. they'd left us there
alone:
When John he nearer an nearer come, an dearer
The Lord Of Hosts he come, one day an took him
away from me.
Stin was bound to struggle an never to eringe OF
Still worked for Charlie. for Charlie was now my
all
And Charley was pretty good to me, with scarce a
word or tTuwn,
Till at last he vent courtin' and brought wife
from town.
She was somewhat dressy, an hadn't a pleasant
She was quite conceity, and carried heap O. style
But If ever tried to be friends did with her.
But she was hard and proud. and 1 couldn't make
itgO.
She had an eddication an that was good for her.;
But when she twitted me on mine' twas earryin
An told her once. fore company IAN it almost
made her sick)
That never swallowed grammar, or ct 'rith'
metie.
So twas only few days before the thing wa:
They was family of themselves, and I another
And very little cottage one family will do,
| But never have seen house that was big enough
for two.
| An never could speak to suit her, never could
An, il made me independent, and then didn't try
But was terribly staggered an telt It like blow;
When Charlie turned agin me, an told me could
I went to live with Susan, but susan's house was
And she was always hintin' how snug it was for us
| all;
Twas easy 10 discover there wasn't room for me.
An. then Iwent to Thomas's the oldest son I've
For Thomass buildings cover the half of an acre
But ali the childr'n n was on mel couldn't stand
And Thomas said needn't think I was comm
| thereto boss.
And then wrote to Rebeeca, my girl who lives ou
And to Isaac not far from her-some twenty miles
And one Of EN- said twas too warm there for any on'
And t'other had the opinion the climate was too
| cold.
So they have shirked and sighted me, an SHIFTED
| me about
But still i've borne up pretty WELL an wasn't muef
| put down,
Till Charlie went to the poor master an put me OF
| the town.
Over the hill to the poor-house-my childr'n dear
| good-by
Many night I've watched you when only God wa
And God'll judge between us; but will al'ay
That You shall suffer the half & do t9 Day Ryy:h