Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-06-03
Written for the Monitor.
WOMEN,S RIGHTS.

Jerusha-that's the woman's name
That l agreed to chSrish,
Through good or evil, thick or thin,
Let me survive or perish
A dozen years ago this Spring
We pledged our troth together,
And we have kept it sacred, too,
Through every kind Of weather,
Until within week or two
When she showed signs of baking,
And now she's going for her rights:
Her line of action, talking -asn.., s-t.s
You know this Spring when Lucy Stone,
And Lvermore and Stanton,
And Anthony and such as these
Held carnival at Scranton;
Jerusha took day" and went
With one of her connection:
And if twas not with my consent,
hadn't no objection.
But she came home with head erect,
With high-heeed boots, and, golly
The way she scattered things around
Was anything but jolly
Said l. my dear" in gentle tones,
what ails you2 can help yOu?
my rights she shouted, Il will have,
You miserable whelp, YOU
.Do you not have your rights?'' said l,
NO! no! no!!r' she repeated;
You take your ease. do the work.
And that's the way I'm treated
Suppose" said I, 1--WE just exchange:
You will the farm attend to,
Look out for things about the barn,
While the wash-tub bend to.
sAgreed" said she, ''that pleases me,
We will commence tomorrow"
The neighbors gigged at the fun
While / bowed down in sorrow.
At early dawn my wife arose
And went out to the stable,
As the tea-kettle put on
And tried to set the table,
she, with the milk-pail ON her arm
Was trying hard to whistle;
But soon she changed it to yell
In stepping on thistle.
She sat down on the larboard side
OF previous gentle brindle,
Who gave kick and sent Jerush
A-whirling like spindle.
While was roaring with delight,
In loud outlaws of laughter
| sat down on the cooking stove,
Which I'll explain hereafter.
Ny wife came in to her repast
And tho l nothing mean meant,
| didn't take seat with her
Is was so incOnvenient.
The tea was hot and SO was l,
And burnt were the potatoes;
Instead of sugar in the bowl
I'd put in salcratus.
| stood up by the mantle-piece
With every mouthful choking;
When she demurely took a match
And 'lit'' my pipe for smoking.
And then she started out again
And to washing Dishes,
To have things as they were before
Among my chiefest wishes.
But notwithstanding all my grief,
| couldn't keep from snorting;
She'd haTnessed up an OK and horse
And there they were disporting.
Then she commenced to shear the pigs
So | could have some spinning;
And l, still troubled with the heat
Kept up constant grinning.
Thus she kept working through the day,
At plOwing, digging dtches
While | was darning stockings and
My luck, and taking stitches.
She came not in at dinner time,
At tea l could not find her.
So | meandered through the field
Intending to remind her.
l went all through the neghborhood,
Not thinking to rebuke her,
But when l came to JOness house
And found her playing euchre,
That made very quiet man
As fierce as any bandit:
I've said l couldn't SIT BEFORE
But now l couldn't stand it.
1 threw my coat off, rolled my sleeves,
And shouted you're goner,''
just as the stalwart Mrs. Jones
Approached me from her corner"
She beat tattoo" upon my face,
Assisted by her daughters
And soon they had me on my knees
Calling aloud for quarters.
Now am in the doctors care
Who gives me close attention;
erusha forgves me and agrees
The subject not to mention.
PAUL.
Boston, May 20, 1871.