The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-05-13
BETSY AND ARE OFT.
A FARM BALLAD.

Draw up the papers, lawyer, and make 'cm
For things at home are cross-ways, and Betsy
We who have worked together so long as man
Must pull in single harness the rest of our nat
What is the matter?" say you. swan! it's
Most of the years behind us we've passed bI
L nave no other wOman--she has no other man,
Only we've lived together as long ever can.
So I've talked with Betsy, and Betsy has talked
So we've agreed together that we can never
Not that we've catched each other in any terri
We've been gatherin' this for years, little at a
There was stock of temper we both had for
start; Tsnart
Although ne'er suspected it would take us two
had my various faiIings bred in the flesh and
And Betsy, like all good women, had a temper
The first thing that remember, whereon we
Was something concerning heaven--a difference
we arg ed tbi tne IL thing at breakfastIwe arged
And the more arg ed the question, the more
And the next that / remember was when we
=, lost COW; Twas only how
held my own opinion, and Betsy another had;
And when we were done u talkin, we both OF
us was mad.
And the next that 1 remember, it started in q
But full for a week it lasted, and neither of us
ANA the next was was when scolded because she
ii
And she said L was mean and stingy, and hadn't
And so that bowl kept pourin' dissensions in
our cup; Gcornin' uD
And SO that bfamed cow-critter was always a
ana SO that heaven we arg ed no nearer to
got; times as hot
But it gave a taste of somethin' a thousand
And so the thing kept workin, and all the self
Always something to arg'e and somethin' sharp
And down on us came the neighbors, a couple
And lent their kindest service for to 6eIp the
And there has been days together-and many a
We were both of us cross and spunky, and both
And I've been thinkin' ana thinkin' the whole
of the winter and fall, won't at ali.
If can't live kind with a woman, why, then 1
And so have talked with Betsy, and Betsy has
And we have agreed together that we can never
And what what is hers shall be hers, and what is mine
And III put it in the agreement, and take it to
Write on the paper, lawyer-the very first par
OF all the farm and live stock, that She shall
For she % mas helped help to earn it through many a
And it's nothin' more than justice that Betsy
Give her the house and homestead; a man can
But women are sReery critters apess h4me fPsx
And nave always determined, and never failed
That Betsy never should want a home, if was
There is a little hard money that's drawin' toll
A couple of hundred dollars laid by for a rainy
Safe In the hands of good men, and easy to get
at; fOf that
Put in another clause, there, and give her half
Yes, see you smile, sir, at my givin' her so
Yes, divorce is cheap, sir, but take no stock in
true ,iTti ana talr l married her, when she was
DIlthe ana young; with her tongue.
And Betsy was al'ays good to me, excepting
Once, when was young as you, and not so
smart, perhaps, [other chaps;
For me she mittened a lawyer, and several
And al of em was Mustered and fairly taken
down, lin town
And for time was counted the luckiest man
Once when 1 had a fever-I won't forget it
soon tloOn-
Never an hour went by when she was out of
sights day and night.
She nursed me true and tender, and stuck to me
And if ever house was tidy, and ever kitchen
clean, [seen
Her house and kitchen were tidy, as any ever
And don't complain of Betsy, any of her
acts, lother facts.
So draw up the paper, lawyer, and III go home
And read the agreement to her. and see il it's
And then in the mornin' I'll sell to tradin
man ! know, in the world I'll GO
And kiss the child that was left to us, and out
And one thing put in the paper, that first to ME
That when am dead at, last she bring ne back
And lay me under the naples planted years
When She and I were happy, before we quar-
And when she dies, 1 wish that she would be
And ly.in' together in silence, perhaps We win
And II ever we meet in heaven, L wouldn't t
think it queer, Lhave quarreled here