Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-11-15
OVER THE HILL TO THE POOR HOUSE.


Over the hill TO the poor.house I'm trudging
my weary way -.
I, woman Of seventy, and only frlne
gray
l, who am smart an clipper, for all the
As many another woman, that's only half
as old.
Over the hill 10 the house can't quite
make II clear
over the hill to The oor.house-.it seems so
horrid queer,
MANY a step I'VE taken a.toilin' to aud fro.
But this is n sort Of journey never thought
to 80.
What is the use Of heapin on me paupor's
shameg
Am / iazv or crazy. Am hind or lamea
True, am not 50 supple, nor yet so awful
But charity amt no favor, II one can live
without.
I am willin' and anxious an ready any day
To work for decent livin'i an pay my
For can earn my victuals an more too,
I'll be bound,
If anybody only is willin' TO have me
round.
Once ] was young an han'some-I was,
upon my soul
Once my cheeks was roses, my eyes as
black Hg coal;
And / can't remember, in them days, Of
For any kind of a reason, that ! Was in
their way.
'Tain't no use of boastin', or talkin' over
But many house an home was open then
Many a handsome offer had from likely
And nobody ever hlntcd that wasa burden
then.
And when to John ! WAS married, sure he
WAS good aud smart,
But he and ali the neighbors would own l
For lie was All before me, an was young
and worsed the best that I could in tryin'
/ TO get along.
Aud no we worked together' and life WAS
hard, hut gay.
Till we had half dozen, au' all growed
/ clean an neat,
An went to school like others, an had
enough to eat.
| So we worked for the child'rn, an raised
! icm every one;
! Worked for 'ein summer and winter, Just
as we ought tO'Ve done;
I Only perhaps we humored 'em, which some
. good folks condemn
/ But every couples childrn's heap the
best 10 them.
Strange how much we think of our blessed
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 II sometimes somehow fails TO
! work tn e other way.
strange, another thing when our boys an
and, when, exGeptin' Charley. they'd left
! us there HlCue;
When John he nearer an nearer come, an
deaTer seemed 20 he,
( The Lord OF Hosts he come one day an
took him away from me.
stnl was bound TO struggle. an never ts
cringe or fall
And Charley was pretty good to me, with
scarce word or frown
Till At last he went a courtin' and brought
a wife from town.
She was somewhat dressy, an hadn't q
pleasant smile
She was quite conceity, and carried a hear
o. style.
But II ever tried to be friends, did witt
her, l know
make 4 20.
She had an odicaiion. an that was good 70
hon.
but when she twitted me on mine, 'twa
carryiu' things too fur;
An foid her ouee fore conpanv fam &
aimost made her siclD.
IA 'ritbmeti@
So twas only n few davs before the chin
was donc-
TbeV ,vas a family OF themselves. and
anotheroue.
Ar,j a veiv little rottgrr ono family will Ia
lfut never hevr seen "A houHp that was hi
"o"s" 'V'
An never rOuII sneak 10 suit her. ncve
. co,ild nlease her .ve.
Amin made me lndenendent. an then
didn'ttrv:
put ,rss fstriblv starrercd an felt IL lils
a. biotg
Vhen Charley turnod arln me. an toll
I ''o ''"'N H'
wont 10 1.-Two ,vftb Susan. but Susan'
,,se W ,,,,s sni
, And sLe ,,ns ,l,yavs "a hinfiu' how snug
INV ,,,a. ~ fo, ~ N. ali
. And vsbsf ,v.th hcr bushand's sistrrs. an,
! IA" '" ,,ifi ch,iid,ie 1hTrc ''''
! No. ,,., o., tterovor tb,t tbeto ,vsa,,i