Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-06-07

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Why not try it? We shall never b
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the road.
For the MEMPHIS APPEAL.
THE GAME OF POKER.
You never told me TIA, before"
"Play on and never mind"
"shuHie the cards, and deal the hand,
81 straddle on the blind"
Idon't know who It was, Bill
Nobody didn't know
It's all forgotten, now, BIZ
Twas a great while ago.
somstimesI almost wish, Bill
Il don't know why it's so);
That / had never picked It mp,
A-lylng in the snow,
Foroften, when I'm" broke" Bill,
And lie IS running low,
feel ft on my heart, Bill,
Where il laid long ago.
And sometimes, when a.thinking, Bill
Il wonder If it's so)?
seem TO hear that baby-ery,
That stopped me in h snO
Ireckon that don't, Bill
I'm only growing old;
They'd say that 1 was crazy,
II what I think was told.
But, BILL you won't "blow" on me,
IfIte1 you, that 1 saw,
Injan, when once a-dying
On q freezing bed of straw,
That babe come to the pallet
And felt its icy form
Creep closely down beside me
As II TO keep me warm!
When chain'd within the dungeons cell,
I've seen the iron band
That bound my wrist, and barr'd the door,
Snapp'd by it's puny hand.
It croueh'd besideme then, BIZ;
Twas at the gauows-tree;
saw It break the hempen rope,
That gave me chance to fee!
Don't swear, " twas but a dream, Bill
By Cd it drives me Wild,
Tosay / havn't seen and Jeu
That pale, forsaken childl
"Your pool; don't tumble up the cards"
bill, tell me how 1t were;'
sYou saw my bluff; and raised the bet,
And beat me on a pair
e g
The flakes were falling thick and fast,
But where that baby lay,
ASH to shew it to me, Bill,
The moon shOue bright as day;
And tho the drifg had covered up
The rOad-as sure as hell
No single flake that / could see
Upon that baby fell!
They've tOlG me that an angel
Or a something in b ar,
Had kept it of the baby,
But didn't see It thar;
Itmight'r been-for once a boy
Had told me bout a tale,
OF how some ay-birds OOverdup
Dead children in a vale.
"You have the edge turn round your cards
So 1 can't see their face"
81 20 a chip" what have you gcts'
-Four deuces and sn ace
Inever had no mother, Bill;
Nor home-but on the street;
What could / do with that poor babe,
A-dying at my feet?
tried TO play the bully, Bill,
And started from the place.
IswOre I didn't care a damn
For that cold baby's face!
You tr0Uld have tramp'd along, Bill?
By Cd couldn't go;
And leave alone, that helpless thing
To perish in the snow!
The moon shOne full upon its face;
Al II to watch it there;
And rested ike q cold, white hand,
Upon Its shiny hair!
IkueePd down close beside it, Bill,
And holding stIu as death;
I felt upon my cheek, BIZ,
The whisper Of its breath.
I took It up as softly, Bill,
As IL had been my own;
It stretched 70 me its arms, Bill,
And made puny moan.
II didn't, hardly, have no clothes;
A bit OF faded shawl,
A ribbon tied around its neck;
A slip-and that wa aul
/ put it In my bosom, Bill,
Beneath my ragged vest;
II thought was its nanny, Bill,
And mumbled at my breast
] gently rubb'd its tiny limbs;
Ilaid its cheek TO mine,
murmur'd pretty b~aby-taIk,
To hush its plantiye whine.
I pressd it closely to my side,
And thro' the livelong night
Hoping to keep my baby warm.
Itramp'd with all my might.
The wind grew freezing cold, BIZ,
ThesnOw fell thick and fast,
And struggling thrO' the binding sleet,
My strength gave out at last.
couldn'tdo no more, Bill,
feel I did my best,
To save the little icy thing
sheltered in my breast
A shiver shook its ~stirless form,
10 Strengthened out its feet;
A quiver-and its hutterinR heart
Forever ceased TO beat
/ laid IL sadly on my lap,
It's eyes were open wide,
And looking right into my lace
Il smued-aud so II diedl
there, beside a fallen tree.
Waiting the dawn Of day,
7 sat and watch'd the moon go down,
And held Its nfeless clayI
Next mornI scratch'd as best 4 could.
A grave beneath the snow,
In lt laid the stranger babe
1 found so Ions 400.
We don't know whera wen 60. Bill,
But when 1 come TO die
me your rag, and move that light
1t shines right In my eysl.
when 1 come to die, Bill
Itcsn't be long, you know
I'd like 70 lie beside the babe
picked up in the snOwl
I