Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-08-31
Over the Hill to the Poor House
By WILL NJ. CARLTON.

tOOA-AASS10
trudgin' my weary way
I, woman of seventy, and only TITLE
gray
I, who am smart an clipper, for all th'
years I've told,
AS many another woman only half q.
old.
Over the hill to the poor-house-I cam
quite make it clear! '--'
Over the hill to the poor-house-it seem!
SO horrid queer! ~
Many step I've taken a toiin' to ane
fro, F2
But this is sort of a journey I never
thought to go.
What is the use of heapin' on me pau
a. per's shame?...
Am lazy or crazy, am blind or lame
True, I'm not SO supple, notyet so awfp
stout; =.
But charity amt no favor, if one can live
without. i.
I am willin' an anxious an ready any
-. day s..;a:,I.5.,
To work for an honest 1iyin', and pay my
honest way; -,
For can earn my victuals, and more toe
u I'll be bound, iipsl,t' -.
If anybody only is willin' to have me
round.
Once was young and handsome-I was,
upon my soul
Once nv cheeks were roses, my eyes as
black as coal; -, !,
And can't remember IN them! days o.
hearin' people say,
For any kind Of reason, that was III
their way.
Tain't no use of boastin', or talkin' over
But many ahouse am home was open
MANY hanson offer had I from likely
And nobody ever limited that I was q
.-. a burden then.
And when to John I was married, sure
he was good and smart,
But he, and all the neighbors, would own
I done my part;
For life was all before me, and l was
young and strong,
And I.worked the best that 1 could, IN
tryin' to get along.
And so weworked together; and life was
hard but gay, r..
With now and then baby for to cheer
us on our way; :,
Till we had half dozen, and all groWeo
clean and neat,
And went to school like others, and had
enough to eat.
So we worked the children, and raised
'em every one;
Worked for 'em summer and winter,
Just as we ought to we done;
Only, perhaps, we humored 'em, which
some good folks condemn.
But every couples children's heap the
best to them.
Strange. how much we think of our
blessed little ones y
I'd have died for my daughters, I'd have
died for my sons;
And God He made that rule of love; but
when we're old and gray,
I've noticed it sometimes somehow fails
to work the other way.
Strange, another thing; When our boys
and girls was grown,
And when, excepting Charley, they'd
left us there alone;
When John he nearer an nearer come,
an dearer seemed to be,
The Lord of Hosts, He come one day an
took him away from me.
Still / was bound to struggle, and never
to cringe or fall,
Still I worked for Charley, for Charley
was now my all; -,
And Charley was pretty good to me, with
scarce word or trown,
Till at last he went courting, and
brought wife from town.
She was somewhat dressy, and hadn't a
pleasant smile
She was quite conceity, and carrieda heap
o style;
But if ever I tried to be friends, l did with
her know, -,
But she was hard and proud, an Icould'nt
make it go.
She had an edication, and that was good
for her,
But when she twitted me on mine, twas
carryin' things too fur;
AM I told her once, fore company IAN
it almost made her sick,)
That never swallowed a grammar, or
'et 'rithmetic.
So twas only few days before the thing
was done;
They were family of themselves, and
another one; -,
And very little cottage one family will
do,
But I never have seen ahc'lse that was
big enough for two.
An I never could speak to suit her, new
er could please her eye,
AM it made me Independent, an then
But 1 was terribly staggered, an felt it
it like blow,
When Charley turned ag'in me, an told
me could go.
I went to live with Susan, but Susan's
And she was always hintin' how snug
it was for all.
An, what. with her husbands sisters, an
what with children three,
,Twas easy to discover that there wasn't
room for me.
AM then went to Thomas, the oldest
son I've got,
For Thomas buildings ID cover the hall
of an acre lot;
Butall the children was on me-l couldn'l
stand their sauce,
An Thomas said needn't think was
comm there to boss.
And then wrote to Rebecca, my gir
that lives out West,
And to Isaac, not far from her-somt
twenty miles at best;
And one of them said it was too warm
there, for any one so old,
And t'other had an opinion the climate
was too cold.
So they have shirked and slighted me
and shifted me about
So they have well-nigh soured me, an
wore my old heart out;
But still I've bore up pretty well, anf
wasn't much put down,
Till Charley went to the poor-master, al
put me ON the town.
Over the hill to the poor-house-my chill
dren dear, goodbye! -:
Many night I've watched you wher
only God was high;
And God II judge between us ; but vii
always pray,
That you shall never suffer the half / dc
to-day.
"No, 1 THANK You AT a re-
cent spiritual sitting in this city, there
was present woman who mournec
the loss of her consort, and, as The
manifestations began to appear, thu