The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1871-06-15
Select Miscellany.
oUf oE THE OLD aoUsR, NANCY
A FARM BALLAD.
BY WILL NJ. CARLETON.

( n Z Ann nALAhD-
! BY WILL N. CARLETON.
Out ofthe old house, Nancy-moved up into the now;
an the hurry and worry are just good through
Only bounden duty remains for you and I,
And that's to stand the doorstep and bid the old
house goodbye.
What shell we've lived in these nineteen or twenty
years
Ondsr it hadn't smashed in and tumbled about our
! ears;
Wonder it stuck together and answered till to-day
But every Individual log was put up here to stay.
Things looked rather new, though, when this old
house was built,
And things that blossomed you, would We made
some women wilt;
And every other day, as sure as day would break,
Ny neighbor Ager come this way, inyitin' me to
'shake"
And yOu, for want Of neighbOrs, was sometimes
I blue aud sad.
For wolves and bears and wild cats was the nearest
ones you had;
Bat loolin' ahead to the clearin', we worked with
all our might,
Until we was fairly out Of the woods, and things
was goin' right.
Look up there at our new house l-ain't it a thing
to ses2
Tall and big and handsome, and as new as new can
be;
/ All in apple-pie order, especially the shelves,
And never debt to say but what We own it all our.
selves?
Look at our old log bOuso-how little it now ap-
pears!
But it's never gone back on US, for nineteen or
twenty years;
An won't go back on it now, go to pOkin' fun,
There's such thing as praisin thing for the good
that It has done.
Probably you remember how rich we was that night,
When We was fairly settled, an had things snug
/ and tight;
We feel as proud as you please, Nancy, over our
! house that's new,
But We felt as proud under this old roof and good
deal prouder too.
Never handsomer house was seen beneath the sun,
Kitchen and parlor and bed-room-we had EN- all
in one;
And the fat old wooden clock that we bought when
we come West,
Was tekin' away in the corner there, aud doin its
level best.
Trees was all around us, whisperin' cheering
! words,
Loud was the squirrels chatter and sweet the songs
Ofbirds;
And home grew sweeter and brighter-our courage
! began to mount
And things looked hearty and happy, then, and
work appeared to count.
And here, one night, it happened, when things was
! goin' bad,
We fell in a deep old quarrel-the first we ever had
And when you gave out and cried, then Ii a fool
gave 10,
Az then We agreed to rub it out and start the thing
! ag'in.
Here it was, you rstiember, we sat when the day
! was done,
And yon was maxim clothing that oasRt for either
one;
And often a soft word of love, was soft enough to
say,
And the wolves was howlin' in the woods not twen-
ty rods away.
Then our first horn baby-a regular little joy
Though fretted a little, because it wasn't boy;
Want she little iirt, though, with ali the pouts
! and smiles?
Why, settlers come to see that show, half dozen
| miles.
Yonder sat the cradle-a homsly, homemade thing;
And many q aight rocked it, providin' you would
| sing.
And many little squatter brought up with Us to
And 50 that cradle, for many year, was never put
away.
How they kept a comm, SO cunning, and fat and
small
How they growed twas a wonder how we found
! room for 'em all;
But though the house was crowded, it empty seemed
! that day
When Jennie lay by the Fireplace, there, and
mOaned her life away.
And right in there, the preacher, with Bible aud
hymn-book, stood,
| '"Twixt the dead and livin', and hoped 'twOuld
do US good
And the little white wood coffin on the table there
was set,
And now a, rub my eyes it seems as if could see
ityet
Then, that TT of sickness it brought on you, you
know;
Just by thread you hung, and you e'en Almost let
go;
And here is the spot tumbled, an give the Lord
| His due,
When the doctors said the fever'd turned, an he
could fetch you through.
Yes, deal has happened to make this old house
dear;
Christenin's. funerals, weddin's-what haven't we
had here?
Not log 10 this builiin' but its memories has got
Aud not nail in this old aoor but touches tender
spot.
Out of the old house, Nanoy-mOved up into the
All the hurry and worry is just as good through
But tell you thing right here, that I amt
ashamed to say:
There's precious things in this old house, we never
eau take away.
Here the old house will stand, but not as it stood
before;
Winds will whistle tBreugh it and rains will food
the floor;
And over the hearth once blazing, the snow drifts
oft will pile,
And the old thing will seem to be mournin' all the
while.
Fare You well, old house, you're naught that car
feel or see,
But you seem like a human being-a dear old friend
TO me;
And we never will have better hOme if my opinion
stands,
Until we commence a keepin' house in the hOus'
not made with hands
The famous column in the Place