Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-02-19
Sheriff IAeoae.~OF What I've Women


~ J. T. TRowBRlDas.
That Eshould be sheriff, and keep tho Jail,
And that yonder stately old fellow, you sec
Marching across the yard. should be
Ny prisoner-wcll, tits 4 curious tale,
As you'll agree.
For it happens, we've been here once before
Together, ana served our time, -althoush
Not just as You SEQ us now. you know:
Whom We were younger both by score
VI years, or 90.
When was wild colt two-thirds growth
Too wild for ever = curb or rein.
Playing my tricks till needn't explain,--
got three months breaking stone,
With ball and chain.
The fodder was mean and the work was hard,
And work and could never agree,
And tho discipIine-well, III short. you SEE,
Twas rather a roughish kind OF card
That carried mo.
A stout steel bracelet about my log,
A cannon shot and chain ut my feet,
1poundcd the stones in the public street,
With heart craa,mcd full OF hate 40 an eSg
Is full of meat.
The school boys jccred at my prison rig,
And me, II I moved, they used to call
For went with jerk II went at ally
"A gentleman dancing the jail.bird jig
Ae u SouuVAS u1A!
But once, as sat in the usual place.
On heap OF stones, and hammered away
AT tho rocks with heart ~ hard a. they,
And cursed Macadanl and al his race,
There CHANGED that way,
Sir. tho loveliest grll don't mean pretty,
But there was that in her troubled eye,
In her sweet, sad glsnce, as she passed me by,
That seemed like an angels gentle pity
For NuCh Ia T. !
And, sir, to my soul that pure look gave
Such thrill as summer morning brings,
With twitter and tlutter of songs and wings,
10 one crouchcd all night long III a cave
OF venomous things. ;, ,.,.,'..
Down the broad street she passed from sight,
But a!ithat day Was undera spell,
And al that night remember we'll
A pair OF eyes made kind OF light
That filed my cell.
Women can do with Us what they will:
rIwas only village girl, but she,
~, WITH the flash ora glance, had shown to me
Ihe wretch was, and the self still
Might strive to be.
Aud if in my misery l began
70 feel fresh hope and courage STIR
To turn my back upon things that were,
Aud my face to the future Of man,-
Twas all for her.
And that is my story. And as for the LADY,
saw her-oh, yes-when was free,
Aud thanked her, and-well come with me
she'll pour your tea.
She keeps my house and keep the Jail:
And the stately old fellow who passed just
And tipped me that very peculiar bow
But that il tha wonderful mart 0f tha tale
Asyou'll allow.
For he, you must know, was sheriff then,
And he guarded me ~ I guard him!
THE fctter I wore now fits his limbl)
just one of your high.aown, straight-laced
Pompous and GRIM
The Great Mogul of our little towul
But while was struggling to redeem
LIVESTOCK went mp, while his went down,
Like the ends Of beam.
What fault2 Twas not one fault alone
That brought him low, but treache-oua
train
OF vices, sapping the heart and brain.
Then came his turn at breaking stone,
With ball and chain.
1t seemed, admit, a sort of treason
To clip him, and give him the cap and ball
And that WAS his keeper seemed worst Of
And cow, 10 word, if You ask the reason
OF mans fall, -.
Twas woman a9ain-ls my reply.
And so said, and I say it still,
That women can do with Us what they will
Strong men they turn with the twirl OF an eye
For good or i'll. -.