Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-11-06
OLD FARMER BROWN.
BY EUGENE ]. HALL.

BY EUGENE j.. HALL.
From the harvest-feld old Farmer Brown came
home with look of
lie threw his hat on the floor, and sat down in his
old splint-bottomed chair;
He wiped the sweat from his dripping brow, and
Paned out his old jack-knife;
he vn1tted away to himself awhile, and called to
his little wife.
FroEn Aer quaint ana tidy Kitchen she came through
with her sleeves pinned up to her shoulders and
Fer skirt pinned up before.
Shr looked faded, wrinkled and worn the folds
of her gingham-gown,
When she saw the haggard and hopeless look on the
face OF Farmer Brown.
Then down in her rocking chair she sank in sort
Nor spoke word but listened and looked to hear
what he might say.
"Hannah, I'm sick a-livin' here an a-workin from
spring to fall
A-raisin' Eaters an corn to SELL that don't bring
Here we have worked together for forty years like
An that old n,O1Tsagc amt lifted yet that to
Gideon Graves.
That judgment-note O. Deacon Dunn's will soon be
AM where the moneys a-cernin' from, why, can't
I'm kep. in sech worry an fret by all of these sort
That have to sell the stuff that raise right off for
what it brings.
1t costs much for my taxes now, an to keep the
That haven't chance to psake cent an that is
what's to pay.
Hannah we've both on us grown old, an our chill
dren all are gone;
There is no now that is left at home for us to
depend upon.
aint strong as used to be, nor as able to work.
But I've got to set these matters square, an the
farmn have to go.
Haf o. the world lives idle with plenty to eat an
wear,
11he farmers work their bent, an their
The workmen delve in the dust an smoke o. the
workshops in the town;
AM the other half o. the world subsists by the work
o. these hardened hands.
An this is o. the reasons why can't pay what
While you an are a-gettin old, an the farmT have
to go.
GIVE worked in the woods in the winter-time, I've
ploEed an sowed in the spring,
I've hoed and dug through summer and fall, an
haven't made a thing.
Sozatmes lie awake ali night, worry, an fuss,
An never a single wink o. sleep a bit o. rest
II think O our grown-up children, an the life they've
-They've got to hoe the same hard row as you and
have done.
think o. the politicians, an the way they rob an
AM the more think o. farmin', the poorer it makes
feel.
The spectators buy up our cheese, butter, our
An they sell 'em again for more'n twice much
they had to pay.
They cheat us ON our provisions an the very clothes
They live their lofty houses, the that can
Their wives Wear dazzlin' diamonds an their chill
dren losf around
In the swimmer they go to the seashore an the
springs to make show,
An that is the way butter an cheese an
corn an Eaters go.
awe work the all summer, raise turnips an
That the railroads an politicians may cheat
put on airs
They rule an ruin the markets, an pack o.
what's to be done2 God only knows. I've failed
In tEyin' to lay a leetle by to ease my decinin
never have been shiftless man; I've fggered;
While the old farms been a-runnin' down since the
day father died.
I've borrowed money to pay my debts, an I've
Til fairly got the start O. me- an the farmn have
10 CO."
Then the little wife of Farmer Brown stood up upon
And she looked at him in a kind of way that she
never had before
The burrows fed from her shriveled cheeks and her
"Ineuer viii sign the deed, John, an the farm shall
There's Jest one thing be done, as sure as you
I are born;
You must join the GRANGE an uOte, John, if you
Hope an prayer are good, John, for the man who
digs an delves,
But Heaven viii never help us, John, unless we help
ourselves.
4 airst clipper an smart an spry, strong
1 used to be,
IEs I've got heap o. spuk John, when it's started
up in me-"
Over the old mans furrowed face the tears began to
flow.
He had felt proud and strong since their
wedding long ago;
golden glean of heavenly hope illumined his souls
despair,
And kneeiing down the time-worn floor, both
bowed ffeir heads in prayer.
Our FiTeside Friend