American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-07
Selected Miscellany.
SHERIFF THoRNE.

BY J. T. rRowBRIDGE.
That should be sheriff and keep the Jail.
And that yonder stately old fellow, you see
MAxching across the yard should be
My prisoner-well. ,tis = curious tile,
As you'll agree
For it happens. we've been here once before
Together, and served our time-although
Not just as you see us n w you know;
When We were younger both by score
on years, or So
When was wild colt two-thirds grown
Too wild for ever u curb or rem,
PLAYING my tricks till needn', explain;
got three month e n breaking stone,
With ball and chain.
The fodder was mean and the work was hard,
And work and could never agree;
And the di-cipline-well, in short, You see,
Twas rather a rogui-h Kind OF card
That Carried mel
stout steel bracelet about my leg,
Acznnon-s shot and chain at my feet,
pounded the stones In the Publc street,
With u heart crammcd full Of hate an egg
Is full of meat.
The school bovs ieered at my prison rig,
And me. il / moved. they used TO call
Cor went with jerk II went al all
"A gentleman dancing the jail-bird jig
At county BALI"
But once. a. sat in the usual place.
On a heap Of stones, and hammered away
AT the rocks with a heart As hard rs they,
And cursed Mscadam and all his
There CHANGED that way,
Sir. the loveiiest girl, don't mean pretty.
But there was that in her troubled eye.
In her sweet. sad glance. as she passed me by
That seemed like an angels gentle pity
For such as l.
And. sir, to my soul that poor look gave
such a thrill as a summer morning brings.
With its twitter and futter Of songs and wings
To one crouched all night long in a cave
OF venomous things
Down the broad green street she passed from sight
Bur all thar day was under a spell,
A pair OF eyes made a kind of light
Thai filled my cell.
Women can do with us what they will;
Twas only a village girl, bnI she rs tom.
The wretch was, and the self still
Might strive to be.
And il in nay misery began
To feel fresh hope and courage stir.
To turn my back upon things that were,
And my face to the future OF a man.
Twas all for her.
And that is NM story And a. for the ladys
saw her-oh. yes-when was free
And thanked her. and-well. come with me:
As likely a not, when supper is ready,
She'll pour your tea.
Sine keeps my house; and keep the jail;
And the stately old fellow who passed just now,
And tipped me that very peculiar bow
But that is the wonderful part OF the tale
As you'll allow.
For he, you mnet know. was sheriff then,
And he guarded me as guard bimi
(The fetfer wore now fits his limbD
just one of your high-nown. straight-laced men,
Pompous and grim,
The Great MQgul OF our little town!
Bat while was struggling to redeem
NY youth. he sank in the worlds esteem;
Ny stock went up. while his went down,
Like the ends Of q beam.
What FAULTY Twas not one fault alone
That brought him low. but treacherous train
OF vices sapping the heart and brain.
Then came hir turn At breaking stone,
With q ball and chain.
1t seemed 1 admit, q sort OF treason,
To clip him. and give him the cap and ball.
Aud that was his keeper seemed worst Of all
And now, in a word. II you ask the reason
OF this mans fall
Twas a woman again-is my reply.
Aud so said. and say it still,
That women can do with what they will:
Strong men they turn with the twirl Of an eye,
For good or i'll.
Atlantic Monthly.