The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-04-04
lFrom the Pittsburgh Gazette
BetScy ana L IRE ont Onc,e JTo,.e
BY H. ELLIoTT M'BRIDE.

BY H ELLIOTT M'BRIDE.
I Betsey and are out once more-we've haf
tearing fight:
| We Jawed, ana talked, and Slashed around
i tell you twas q sight.
| kinder wish We hadn't fought Z; it seems q
little queer
! That we can't live like other folks and be
coEteuted here.
But Betsey has temper, cir, and I've a
And when we commence 10 fight, VIC fight
| the battle through.
/ In this, our latest little fuss she fairly
! scruEched me down:
| She grabbed my silver locks, and tore them
| from my crown.
| She thrashed me with a hazel stick-it might
be called pole
And then she cracked me on the head with
twenty Jumps of coal;
She took me by my Roman uose-tLe handle
OF my head
She wrung and twisted il abOut-Oh. gosh
ems how 1t bled!
She said I'd never bought for her 4 new and
shiny silk.
And then she flung kersIosh on me a crock
of buttermilk
she sad was al ugly mana mean and
lying cheat
And mp her foot went, sudden-like, and I
went on my seat
Now, Gale" said she ssfus+ sit yo,, -tsra
49, J ' t.
and listen while l talk:
II show you now am boss, and make yOu
toe the chalk.
You are = pretty man, OH dear. of high and
moral tone,
To lounge about that drinking hole. and
leave me here alone.
- 'Tis years ago since first we met: YOU said
you loved Inc we'll:
ION said you'd always be the Sane-in han
piuess we'd dwell;
\ l-1r.- r..
would 50 tOndly prize. -
And while she spake, ah, me, It's true, the
tears came in her eyes.
Twas very strange to see her thus, my Bet
Scy shedding tears
III sure had not seen her cry for more
than twenty years.
1t took me back unto the past-the main of
long ago
When she and l stood by the grave of tIar-
ling little Joe.
l thought I'd like to say TO her, my Betsey,
uo not weep;
II you forgive me, true it is I viii my pre-
mise keep:
II drink no more. I'll stav Al home for Ills
better plan,
And you can help me, If you will, to be a
better Iuau-
But BetSey had the floor just then-I thought
l wouldn't speak;
thought III wait and hear her through if
she would talk a week
Upon th@ floor ! rested stilI-and sure twas
better thus:
If had tried TO take a CHAIR there might
have been a fuss
And then she spake 10 me again: Have Won
forgot the past?
Have you forgot our sunny life before. il was
O'eTCast?
All. Gale, I truly loved you tlIen-you were
50 kind and true
For many years l thought there was no bet
ter man than you
And when our little darlings died, Eliza.
Kate and Joe,
They placed them in the quiet vale, and we
were full Of woe;
You We're 80 good and noble theu-rnv staff
and only stay;
You spoke TO me 20 teuderly, my troubles
passed away.
THE years went on and you grew coId-you
cared no more for me
And somehow we commenced TO fight we
could no more agree,
You took 10 drink and squandered aIl-ir
sore-E ECIeVed my heart:
But 1 have thought the matter Ger, and,
Iale, We q better part
This reused me mp. Said 7, ''OId Bets, YOU
ar I.5ul. iade!''
afr.id-)
i IL sure l haven't squaDdered alI-you' We
got your money vet;
IL.
a sweat.
With that 4 heavy lick she struck me, and
knocked me on the floor.
And then she raped me on the head some
twenty times or more.
She pulled ne east, she pulled me west, she
grabbed me by the hair;
She flung me clear across the room and
smashed the rocking chair.
When I got ont I came away, and now 1
20 away with saddened heart in this cold
world 10 roam.
The tears will come into my eyes, II seems
50 lonely now
And then l ask, How will l live?'' and
echo answers, How"
am a very quiet man I hate these fights
and brawIs;
III rather go and end my days within the
p0ur-hou walls.
Ia rather lie both lone and poor, and live
upon the town.
Than have my Betsey jaw me so and daily
knock me down.
1t seems so strange to leave my home when
l am poor and old,
And go away and wander round IN this great
world 80 cold
1t seems 50 strange to leave the one with
whom I've passed my days;
l should have lived 4 uOUler life and trIed 10
mend my ways.
fear that Detsey1l come to want; she : get
ting Old and gray;
But can L stay and help her on along her
No, no, can't, She wrung my nose and drag
ged me all about,
And so you see, 1t cannot be; for she and l
are out.
But now that have left my home, I'll take
solemn vow
Ill never drink another dram-Iu start
anew from now;
And while live III live aright-atone for
for all the past,
And strive TO reach that better land and rest
in peace at last.
SHINLASD, Allegheny Co, Pa.