Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-04-04
Poetyy.
rsycuao. Gn.s,,s F.su.urs,.

4aood morning, morning, Neighbor Gray,
IT'S uncommon pleasant weather,
thought I'd call ss I went to town,
And we'd have talk together.
Your crops-how are they getting on'
Is'posed you'd be a-mowing,
But see ss look at your lower lot
You Amt quite finished hoeing."
"No, Neighbor.dreen, hev bad luck,
I plod from year TO year,
But can't contrive TO make eI ds meet
There's somethin' wrong, that's clear.
The weevils they eat up my wheat;
Ny corn don't seem to grow;
And I'm 'fraid the black potato rot
wjl spoil that crop, you know. ia
ST own four hundred acres, strong,
OF pastor, wood, and hay,
But It's mighty tough, hard uphill work,
And fsrmin' doesn't pay.
I've tried a-raisin' oats and rye,
Broom-corn, tobacco, fax,
But git behind-hand every year,
Can't even pay my tax.
"Cant git hand to help me hoe
A day, for love nor money.
Boys, nowadays, are fraid OF work,
lido declare its funny.
Ny Pat just cut his finger of,
Asplittin' up rail,
And Bridget don't dare milk the cows,
For fear they'll kick the pail"
my sons, John, Jim and Israel,
Left me two years ago,
To run grist-mill way out West
In Michigan-St. Joe.
Ny girls,-well Jane, she's married now,
And Ester, and Medora
Hev gone to try and keep school
In place they call Sonora
'rMy wife, she's kind o. tired out,
And seems to like to mutter
Bout bakin' days and washin' days
And maxim cheese and butter.
She almost frets my patience out,
Cause don't take the papers,
And so send for sake Of peace,
And borrow Deacon Drapers."
81 know it's sort o. stingy like
meager way Of Twin,
To never have cent to spare
For spendin' or for glvin',
And, sometimes, when look around
I'm half inclined to think
ouphter hev somethin' besides
Ny vittlcs and my drink
"Theres Lawyer Brown, and Parson white,
Keep spans, fast, sleek and fat,
rye only got one-horse team,
shabby one at that
Now, neighbor. since you've happened In,
q never mean to fatter,)
But you're the man, for all the world,
To tell me what's the natter
"Ah, Eeighbor Gray, you're very kind,
And III tell you in trice,
For there's one thing we're all free to give,
And that is, good advice.
Your farms too large, your land is poor,
II keeps you In worry,
Your grass ia thin, your grain is weak,
with all your fuss and furry"
'Lons years ago poet prayed
For "A little farm well TILED
We scarce md rhymers nowadays
In agriculture skilled.
Bat that's good sense: go sell your fields,
Acres! don't keep but ifty!
Then undordrain your low lands,
Your hills, dress, make them thrifty"
'Mowing machines are handy things,
And SOS q good horse rake,
Tho best q the cheapest in the end
Whatever name and make.
Fix firm each shaky, Keeling fence,
Prune the knarled apple trees,
Plant belts or cedar, spruce and pine,
To break the northwest breeze.
"Give the old house q coat Of paint
It needed 1t before,
Then put some sweet, old-fasbioned pinks
And roses by the door.
That parlor carpet, faded, worn,
Replace 1t with new;
Build bay window looking south,
To catch the pleasant view.
"weI,-neIt,-go buy your wife gown,
A ribbon and a shawl,
A few well chosen books, and hang
Some pictures on the wall,
Then take the Ploughman, Phoenix, Times,
Republican, Gazette,
And If you add Harper's Bazaar
Your wife will never fret"
"And then call home those girls, forlorn,
Dear Esther and Medora,
Don't let them stay another day
Away in old Sonora.
But p'raps II Israel, John and Jim,
Are making money So .
They'd better stay and run their mill
At present in st. joe.