Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-24
Bstsey and L Arc Ont.

columns oil thai paper
Betsey and 1 Arc Out.
Draw up the papers, lawyer, and make 'em good
For things at home are crossways. and Betsy
We who have worked together so long as man
and wife,
Must pull in single harness for the rest of our
natral life.
stwhat is the matter?" say you, 1 swar, it's hard
$50 to tell
Most Of the years behind us we've passed by very
/ have no other woman, she has no other man
Only we've lived together as long as ever we can.
And so have talked with Betsy and Betsey has
And so we've agreed together that we can't
Not that we've catched each other in any terri
We've been gathering this for years, a little at
time.
There was stock of temper we both had, for a
start,
Although we never suspected 'twould take us
1 had my various feelings, bred in the flesh and
And Betsey, like all good women, had temper
of her own.
The first thing remember, whenever we disa-
greed,
Twas something concerning heaven-a differ
ence in our creed;
We arged the thing at breakfast, we arg'ed the
And the more we arg'ed the question, the more
we didn't agree.
The next thing remember was when we lost a
She had kicked the bucket for certain, the ques-
ton was only-how?
had my own opinion and Betsey another had,
And when we were done a-talkfn', we both of US
was mad.
And the next thing remember, it started in a
But fun for week it lasted, and neither of us
spoke;
And the next thing was when 1 scolded because
she broke bowl
She said was mean and stingy, and hadn't any
Soul
And so that bowl kept pouring discussions in our
cup;
And SO the heaven we arg'ed no nearer to US
But it gave us a taste of somethin' thousand
times as hot.
And SO the thing kept workin' and all in the self
same way,
to say;
And down on us came the neighbOrs, couple o.
And lent their ki1Sdest service to help the thing
along.
And there has been days together and many a
weary week
We was both OF As cross and spunky, and both
And have been thinkin' and thinkin', the whole
of the winter and fall,
If Ican't live kind with woman, why, then, l
won't at all.
And so talked with Betsy, and Betsey has
talked with me,
And we've agreed together that we can never
And what's hers shall be hers, and what is mine
shall be mine,
And III put it in the agreement and take it to
her to sign.
Write on the paper, lawyer-the very first para
graph
OF all the farm and live stock that she shall have
For she has helped to earn it, through many a
weary day,
Andit's nothing more than justice that Betsy
has her pay.
Give her the bouse and homestead-a man can
thrive and roam,
But women are skeery critters, unless they have
home;
And have always determined and never failed
to say,
That Betsey should never want home, if was
taken away. ..
There is little hard money that's drawin' tol'ra-
BILE pay,
A couple o hundred dollars, laid by for rainy
Safe in hands of good men, and easy to get at;
Put in another clause there, and give her the halt
OF that.
Yes, see you smile, sir, at my giving her SO
much,
Yes, divorce is cheap, sir, but take no stock in
such;
True and fair married her, when she was blithe
and young,
And Betsey was always kind to me, exceptin'
with her tongue.
Once when I was young as you, and not so smart,
perhaps,
For me, she mittened a lawyer and several other
And all Of them was fustered and fairly taken
And for a time was counted the luckiest man in
town. -
And when once 1 had fever-I won't forget ii
soon,
l was as hot as roasted turkey and crazy as a
loon;
Never an hour went by me when she was cut Of
sight
She nursed me true and tender and stuck by me.
day and night.
Andif ever house was tidy, and ever kitchen
clean,
The house and kitchen was tidy as any ever
seen;
And don't complain of Betsey or any of her
acts,
Exceptin' when we've quarreled and told each
other facts.
SO draw up the paper, lawyer, and I'll go home
tonight
And read the agreement to her and see if it's al
right;
And then in the mornin' III sell to tradin' man
l know,
And I'll kiss the child that was left to us, anG
out in the world III 60.
And one thing put in the paper, that first to me
didn't occur,
That when l am dead at last, she'll bring me
| back to her,
And lay me under the maple planted years
ago,
When She and was happy, before we quarrel
ed so.
And when she dies wish that she would be LAID
by me,
And, lying together in silence, perhaps we viii
| agree;
And if ever we meet in heaven, wouldn't thinl
| it queer,
If we loved each other the better, because We
! quarreled here.
|