Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-06-22
Betsey Destroys the Paper.
SEQUEL TO "DETsEY AND ARE OUT,

I've brought back the paper, lawyer, and fetch
ed tho parson here,
To see that things are regular, settled up fair
and clear;
For I've been talking with Caleb, and Caleb has
talked wi h me,
And the mount of it is we're minded to try once
more to agree
SO came here on the business only word
to say,
Caleb is stalking pea-vines and couldn't come
just to tell you and parson how that we've
changed or mind
So I'll tear up the paper, lawyer; you see it
isn't signed
And now if parsOn is ready, I'll walk with him
toward home,
want to thank him for some things; twas
kind of him to come.
He's showed the Christian spirit, stood by us
firm and true
We mightnt have changed our mind, squire, ii
he'd been lawyer too.
There How good the sun feels, and the grass
and BLOWN trees
Something about them lawyers makes me feel
fit to freeze,
wasn't bound to state particulars to that man,
But it's right you should know, parson, about
our change OF plan.
We'd been some days wayerin a little Caleb
And wished the hateful paper at the bottom of
the sea-
But guess twas the prayer last evening, and
the few words you said
That thawed the ice between Us, and brought
things to head.
You see, when we came to division, there was
things that wouldn't divide;
There was our twelve-year-old baby, she could
mt be satisfied
To go with one or the other, but just kept
whimperil' low,
"I'll stay with papa and mamma, and where
they go TWgo.
Then there was grandsire's Bible--he died on
our wcdding-day;
We couldn't halve the old Bible, and should it
go or stay
The sheets that was Caleb's mothers, her SAM
pier on the wall,
With the sweet old names worked in-Tryphena
and Eunice, and Paul.
began to be hard then, parson, but it grew
harder still,
Talkin' of Caleb established down at McHenrys-
vile;
Three dollars week 'twould cost him no
mcndin' nor sort of care,
And board at the Widow Meacham's, woman
that wears false hair.
Still we went on talkin' l agreed to knit some
socks,
And make dozen striped Shirts and pair of
wa'mus frOcks;
And he was to cut doorway from the kitchen
to the shed;
"Save you climbing steps much, in frosty
weather, he said.
He brought me the pen at last I felt sinkin,
and he
Looked as he did with the agur, in the Spring
of sixty-three.
Twas then you dropped in, parson 'twasnt
much that was said,
Little children, love one another" but the
thing was killed stone dead.
should like to make confession; not that I'm
going to say
The fault was Ill on my side, that never was
my way,
But it may be true that women-tho' how 'tis
can't see
Are trihe more aggravatia than men know
how to be.
Then, parson, the neighbors' meddlin'-it was-
mt pourin' oil
And the church a-laborn' with US, twas worse
than wasted toll;
And I've thought, and so has Caleb, though
maybe we are wrong,
If they'd kept to their own business We should
have got along.
There was Deacon Amos Purdy good man as
we know,
But hadn't gift of laborin' except with the
soythe and hoe;
Then load came over in peach time from the
Wilbur neighborhood,
"Season Of prayer" they called it didn't do an
atom of good.
Ill tell you about the heifcr-one Of the kndest
and best
That brother Ephriam gave me, the fall be
moved out Vest
I'm free to own it riled me that Caleb should
think and say,
She died of convulsions-a COW that MIXED
four gallons day.
But / needn't have spoke of turnips, needn't
have been 70 cross,
And said hard things, and limited as if twas all
nly loss
And I'll take it all back, parson that fire shan't
ever break out,
Though the COW was choked with turnip !
never had doubt.
Then there are p'ints OF doctrine and views Of
future state,
I'm willing to stop discussin; we can both af
ford 10 wait;
'Twont bring the millennium sooner, dsputin
about when it's due,
Although feel an assurance that mines the
ScHiptural view.
But the blessedest truths OF the Bible, I've
learned to think, don't lie
In the texts we hunt with q candle to prove oul
doctrines b.,
But them that come to us in sorrow, and When
were on our knees
SO if Caleb won't argue on free will, I'll leave
alone the DEGREES.
One notion OF Caleb's, parson, seems rather
misty and dim;
wish ii it comes convenient, you'd change
word with him.
1t don't quite stand to reason, and for gospel il
isn't clear,
That folks love better in heaven for having
quarreled here.
I've no such an expectation why, parson i
that is 80,
You needn't have worked 80 faithful to recon
Gle folks below
hold another opinion, and hold it straight
and square,
II we can't be peaceable here, we won't be
peaeeabe there.
But there's the request he made, you know it
parson, about
Bein' laid under the naples that his own HAND
set out,
And mo to BIO laid beside him when my time
come to 60.
As if-as if-don't mind me but twas that on
strung me so.