Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-01-02
The Doorstep.

BY EDMUND c. sTEpsAS.
The conference meeting through at last,
We boys around the yestry waited
To see the girls come tripping past
Like snow birds willing 10 be mated
Not drawer he that leaps the wall
BY level musket-fashes ltten,
Than |, who stepped before them an
Who ionged TO see me get the mltten'
Butno, she blushed and took my arm
We let the old folks have the high"A'
And started toward the Maple Farm
Along kind Of lovers Y-way-
can't remember what We said,
Twas nothing worth a song or siolH
Yet that rude path by which we spe1
Seemed all transformed and IN si'i''
The snow WAS crisp beneath our feet,
The moon was FULL the fields were sleahiHs'
~ hood and tippet sheltered sweet .
Her face with youth and health was oeAih-Hs-
The little hand outside her muf,-3
q scnlptor. if YOU could but mould IL
So Lightly touched my jacket Gun,
To keep il warm had 10 hold 1t.
To have her with me there alone,
Twas love and fear and triumph blended
AT last we reached the foOt-worn stone,
Where that delicious journey ended
The old folks. too. were almost home;
Her dnpled hands the latehes hngeEei'
We heard the voices nearer come,
Yet on the doorstep still we fingered.
She shook her ringlets from her hood
And with Thank you, Nod" dissemhlei
But vet knew she understood
With what daring wish tremhled
A cloud passed kindly overhead,
The moon was slyly peeping through Il,
Yet hid It's face, as IL il said
Come, now or neyeri do 1t 10 a. '
nv Ilps ill them had only known
The kiss Of mother and OF sister,
put somehow, full upon her own
Sweet, rosy, darling mouth,-l kissed her.
Perhaps twas boyish love, yet still,
. listless woman, weary lover
To feel oncemore that fresh, wild thrill
Ia give-but who can live youth over.
Pacific organ Of advanced agriculture, Tia
California Granger, Is sestLst cilly adorned pg
poet who detects the great perl 81 the ass'.ciat@
ursngers % the fields from the WHY pol tciALs 90
tue town. and ri ises warning V'ice IA the ap
pended graphic parable
THE OLD 6RASGEe.
a P.Uoly]
Near the track of a railroad newly Ia.d.
A farmer leaned On his earth-wurn spade'
While he taxes were high and his crops but sllm'
The charge for irei gt pia yed tne deuce with hun
So he grow ed grow At the trains sharp din--
IN gather you Il III Gather YOU IN
Il have borne % long. and here swow
You Railroads 10 beat some way, or how
will get up a law 20 the great horned ON
To cut down Your profits and make you how
AMI hut LITTLE. 90 nothiu- I'M ship ,gum BON
Or boarded ryrn, an I've s-therei you "a
We will rise in cur Oranges. hold and rec.
And Down with ire shts shall our war cry i'e.
Not partisan creN, nor f1rty hack,
shall help "a tu gain oar b.rthrght back
For the battle i ours, 10 lose OF win
Wen gather them IN well gather them 90
Nov ssunt politician came that way.
Overheard the Cd mans angry say
And he gave TO his head knowing screw.
And SAID TO the Granger. Count me, too
With a thou ght t. himself, Teplete WITH gfih.
"Ill gather YOU in III gather you n
Then a twist Of his eye, to seem acute
q. The "a rner's tongue has TOO long been mute
am lust your man Il il suits your mood
S. place me where can do most good
II Office fit YOU will help me win,
Wen gather them in we'll gather them IA
Touching hand to hand, ia a warm exchange
They takes walk % the farmers Grange
Where the stranger speaks with rural ar
And sprinkles hayseed in his hair
" Let ra lroads squal. when our blows begin
Well gather them in we'll gather them n
So they vote for him at the coming polls
Those simple rural, honest souls;
Never dreaming that they Of the iron horse,
Are voting TOO. for the man, Of course.
As or him alone thoir faith they pin,
To gather them in. to gather them IN
When election is over the railroads run
score OF rains where they once had one
While ditch by the track is found T. hold
poor old Granger, stark and cold
For the chap he "A hell ped 10 Office win
Had gathered him IN, had gathered hun ia