Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-04-27
A FARM BALLAD.

Was something concerning heaven--a difference
in our creed.
We argod the thing at breakfast--we arg'cd the
thing at tea
And the more we arg ed the question, tho more
we didn't agree.
And the next that remember was when we lost
COW;
She had kicked the bucket for certain-the ques-
ton was only-How3
l held my own opinion, and Betsey another had {;
md when we were done talkin' We both of us
was mad.
And the next that remember, it started in a
joke;
But full for week it lasted, and neither Of us
spoke.
And the next was when / scolded because she
broke bowl;
And she said was mean and stingy, and hadn t
any SOUL
And so that bowl kept pourin' dissensons in our
And go that blamed COW critter was always a
comm up;
And 80 that heaven we arg ed no nearer to us got
But it gave us taste Of something thousand
times as hot.
And 30 the thing kept workin,' and always the
self-same way;
Always somethin to arg'e, and somethin sharp
to say.
And down on us come the neighbors, a couple
dozen strong
And lent their kindest sarvice for to help the
thing along,
And there has been days together-and many a
weary week
We was both Of us cross and spunky, and both
too proud to speak.
And have been thinkin' and thinkin', the whole
of the winter and fall
| If l can't live kind with woman, why, then, ]
won't at all
And so have talked with Betsey, and Betsey
has talked with me;
And we have agreed together, that we can't new
or agree
And what is hers shall DO hers, and what is mine
shall be mine;
And I'll put it in the agreement and take it tc
her to sign.
Write on the paper, lawyer-the very first para
graph
OF all the farm and livestock, that she shall
have her half.
For she has helped to earn it, through many q
weary day,
And it's nothin more than Justice that Betseyhas
her pay.
Give her the house and homestead; man can
thrive and roam,
home.
And have always determined, and never failed
to say,
That Betsey never should want home, if wat
taken away.
There is little hard money that's DRAWN tolra
BILE pay,
A couple of hundred dollars laid by for rainy
day;
Safe in the hands of good men and easy to get at
Put in another clause, there, and give her hall
of that.
Yes, see you smile, sir, at my giving her sc
much;
Yes, divorce is cheap Sir, but take no stock il
True and fair married her when she was blthe
and young
And Bstsey was alays good to me oxceptin
with her tongue.
Once, when was young as you, and not 80 smar
perhaps,
For me she mittenod lawyer and several oths,
chaps;
And all of EN- was fustered, and fairly taker
down,
And for time was counted the luckiest man il
Once when had fever-I won't forget it soon
l was hot as basted turkey and crazy as loon
Never an hour went by me when she was out O
sight;
She nursed me true and tender, and stuck to mt
day and night.
And if ever house was tidy, and ever kitchen
clean,
Her house and kitchen WAS tidy as any eve
SEEM
And don't complain Of Betsey or any of her acts
Exceptin' when we've quarreled and told eacl
other facts
80 draw up tho paper, lawyer, and I'll 60 HON
tonight
And read the agreement to her and see if it's al
right;
And then in the mornin' I'll sell to tradin' MAJ
know
And kiss the child that was left to us, and out il
the world I'll go.
And one thing put in the paper, that first to m
didn't occur
That when am dead at last she bring me back t
her;
And lay me under the naples planted years age
When she andI was happy before we quarreledsc
And when she dies wish that she would be lai
by me;
Aud lynn together in silence, perhaps we sha
agree;
Aud if ever we meet in heaven, wouldn't thin
itqueer
II We loved each other better because We qua