The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-06-24
Gge dYoet's Department.
Over the Hiil to the Poor House.
BY WILL N. CARLETON.

BY WILL M CARLETON.
over the hill to the poor house I'm trudgIng my
!, a woman of seventy, and only trific gray
l. VINO M am smart an clever, for ali the years
AS many another woman that's only half as old.
over the 9 hiil to the poor house, can't quite
Over the hill to the poor house-it seems SO hor-
Many step I've taken a toili1i' to and fro,
But TINS Is a sort of Il Journey never thought
What is the use Of hcapln' on me pauper's
AMI Am lazy or erazyi am I blind or lare2
true, am not so supple, nor yet so awful stout
But charlty ain { no favor, II Onelcan live with
out.
am willin' an anxious an ready any day
10 work FOR decent livin' an pay my honest
For can earn my victuals, and more. too. III
IL anybody only is willin to have me round.
Once was young and han'some-I was, upon
Once my cheeks was roses, my eyes as black as
ana can t remember, in them days, of hearin'
For any kind of reason, that was in their way.
,,Taint use of boastin', or talkin' over free,
But many Il house an home was Open then to me:
many nan some offer had from likely men,
And when to John I was married, sure he was
But he and ali tho neighbors would own Done done
For NE was all before me, an was young and
And I worked the best that I could in tryin to
And so We worked together; and life was hard,
With now and then a baby fer TO cheer us On
III we hao haif dozen, an ali growed clean
An went to school like others, an had enough
So we worked for the chld'rn, and raised them
every one; fought tove done
W9rk'd for 'em summer and winter, Just as we
only perhaps we humorcd EN-, which some
good folks condemn, Them
But every couples child'rns heap the best to
Strange how much we think of our blessed lit
Ia have died for my daughters 10 q have hy SGiis iei
And Coo He made that rIlc of love- but when
I've n"fice Ga and gray, 1.-The other way
Strange another thing: when our boys an
And when enceptn Charley theyd egsfe ieft G5
aearer seemed to be,
The Lord Of Hosts He came one day an took
him away from me.
Still was bound to struggle, an never TO crihee
sti worked for Charley, for Charley was was now
And Charley was pretty good to me, with scarce
Till at last he went a-courtin' ana brought a
She was somewhat dressy, and hadn't a pleasant
=, smile lstyle;
But il ever tried to be friends, did with her,
But she hard and proud ah couldn't m make o;
She had an edication, and that was good for
But when she twitted me on mine, twas car
An told her once, fore company, (an' it al
m most made her sick,) arithmetic.
That never swallowed a grammar, ct a
So twas only few days before the thing was
- dome one;
They were a family of themselves, an another
And a very little cottage Il family will do,
But L never have seen house that was big
enough for two.
An never could speak to suit her, never could
please her eye, Ttry
An it made me independent, an then didn't
But l was terribly staggered, an felt 1t like a
blow, [couId go
When Charley turned agin me, and told me /
1 went to live with Susan, but Susan's house
was small, for us all /;
And she was always hintin' how snug it was
And what with her husbands sisters and what
with children three, [me.
Twas easy TO discover there wasn't room for
An then I went to Thomas's, the oldest son
I've got, [acre lot :;
| For Thomas's buildings d cover the half OF an
| But all their child'rn was on mel couldn't
stand their sauce There to boss.
And Thomas said 1 needn't think l was comm
And then I wrote to Rebeeea, my girl who lives
out west, [inilcs at best :;
And one OF EN- said twas too warm there for
any one so old, Icold
! And tother had the opinion the climate was too
| So they have shirked and slighted me- and shift
ed me about told heart out :;
| So they have well nigh soured me, an wore my
much put down, [Ine on the town.
| Till Charley went to tho poor master, an put
! Over the hill TO the poor house-my chiid'rn
dear, good-by twas nigh :;
| Many a night I've watched you when only God
| And God III judge between US; but viii al
That you shall never suffer the half do to-day.
! Hd1per"S Weekly.