The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-06-29
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OVER THE HILL TO THE POOR
H- --rH WFnVCE .-- ... -..
By WILL N. cARLEroN.


over the hil.tO the poor house Pm trndgin' my
I, a woman Of seventy, ana only a triffie gray
i who am smart an cipher, for all the years I've |
As many another yeman that's only. hsifas Old.
over the hill to the poor house : I can't quite
over the hin to the poor house-It seems so hor-
Many step I've taken a toilin' to and fro,
But thisis sort ofjourney never thought to go.
What, is the use of heapin' on M, pauper's
Am lazy or erazya am blind or lame9
True am not so supple, nor yet so awful stout:
But charity amt no favor, if one can live without.
am willin' an anxious an ready any day
To work for decent livin' an pay an honest way;
For can earn my vietuals an more, too, TIL be
IfanybOdy only is wiIlin' to have me round.
once was young and han'some-I was, upon my
oncemy checks was roses, my eyes as black as
And T'caa't remember, in Them days. of hearih'
For any kind Of a reason. that was in their way
But nlsny honse an home was open then to me;
Many han'some offer had from likely men.
And when to John was married. sure he was good
But he and ali my neighbOrs would own done
For lie was alfbefore me, an was young an
Aad5f wofiyr,' "a. best that eouid in tryin to
get along.
Ana, 50 we worked togeihsri and life was hard.
With o9-and then a baby for to cheer US on our
Til We had halt dozen. an all growed clean an
An went to school like others. an had enough to
eat.
So We worked for the ehildr'n, and raised them
Work Tor EN- summer and winter. just as we Oght
Only perhaps we hnmored 'en. which some good
But every complies childr'n's heap the best to
them.
Strange how much we think of our blessed little
I'd have died for my daughter I'd have died for
And God he made that rule of love; but when
I've noticed it sometimes somehow fails to work
the other way.
Strange, another thing: when our boys and girls
And when, eIceptin' Charley. they'd left us there
When John he nearer an nearer come. an deaFer
The Lord Of Hosts He came one day an took him
away from me.
Still I was bound to struggle, an never to cringe
stin worked for Charley. for Charley was my all,
And Charley was pretty good 10 me with scarce
TIL at last he went 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 Itried to-be friends, did with her,
But She was hard and proud, an I couldn't make
it go, ..- --
But when she twitted me on mine twas csrryin
An, It0la her once. fore company Can it almost
That ] never swallowed grammar. or ct a ,rith-
metic. - -e'
So twas only afew days before the thing was DONE
They was family Of themselves, and and IanOther
And a very little cottage one family will do,
But never have seen house thatwas big enough
ior Two.
An, never could speak to suit -her, nev'r could
An t made me Independent, an, th0n didn't try;
But was terribly staggered, an feltit Ikea blow
When Charley turned agin me, and told me l
cOuld 60 --.
/ i VENT 70 i've Win SUSAN out Susans mouse was
| small,
And she was always a hintin' how snug it was for
all; .. e
And what with her husbands sisters, and what
/ with children three,
Twas easy to discover there WASN'T room for me.
An, then went to ThOmas's, the oldest son I've
| got,
For rhomas's buildings cover the half of an acre
But ali the children was on mel couldn't stand
And Thomas said needn't think was comm
there TO boss.
An then wrote to Rebecca, my girl who lived
And e g Isaac. not far from her-sOme t"enty
And Oneof 'em said twas too warm there for any
And t'othes had the opinion the.clirnafe was TOO
sO'', 7 eg.st
So they have shrink ed and slighted me, an shift
| ed me about
So they have well nigh soured me, an wore my
| old heart out;
But stiIl rve borne mp pretty well, an wasn't
Till Charley went to the poor master. an put me
on thetOWn.
over the hin 70 the poor hOuse-my ehild'rn
Many night I've watched You where only God
| was nigh: - s..-....- la
And God II Judge between ns; Lat viii alWays
That You shall never suffer the haIf. ! do to-day
HdyPer'S Weekly.