The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-02-06
SHERIFF THORNE'
N.Y.. T. TRowBRIpGE.

THAT should be sheriff, and keep the Jail,
And that wonder stately old fellow you see
Marching across the yard, should be
NV prisoner-well tits a curious tale,
As you'll agree.
For II hanpens. we've been here once before
Together, and served our time-athough
Not lust as you see US now, you know;
when we were younger both by a score
ofyears or so.
When was a wild colt two-thiAis grown
Foo wild for ever curb or rein,
Playing my tricks till needn't explain;
got three months at breaking stone,
With ball aud chain.
The fodder was mean and the work was hard,
And work and could never agree;
And the discipline-well, in short, you see,
Twas rather roughish kind of card
That curried met
A stout steel bracelet about my leg,
A cannon shot and chain at my feet
pounded the stones in the public street,
With heart crammed full of hate as an egg
Is full of meat.
The sohoolboys jeered at my prison rig,
And me- II moved, they used to call
(For went with jerk, If | went at ally
:" gentleman dancing the 1ail-bird jig
At county ball
But once as / sat in tie usual place,
On heap of stones, and hammered away
At the rocks with heart as hard as they,
And cursed Macadam and all his race,
There CHANGED that way.
Sir, the loveliest girl! l 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 pure look gave
Such a thrill as a summer morning brings,
With its twitter and hutter of songs and wings,
To one crouched all night long in cave
OF venomous things.
Down the broad green street she passed from sight
But all that day was under a spell,
And all that night remember we'll
A pair of eyes made kind of light
That filled my cell.
Women can do with us what they will;
Twas only village girl, but she,
With the flash of glance, had shown to me,
The wretch l was, and the self still
Might strive to he.
And if in my misery began
To feel fresh hope and courage stir
To turn my back upon the things that were,
And my face 20 the future of man,
Twas all for her.
And that is mn story. And as for the lady?
saw her-oh yes-when was Free
And thanked her, and-well, come with me-
As likely as not, when supper is ready,
She'll pour your tea.
She 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 must know, was sheriff then,
And he guarded me "a guard him
(The fetter | wore now fits his kindly
Just one of your hgh-hown, straight-aced men,
Pompous and grim,
The Great Mogul of our little town
But while | was struggling to redeem
My youth, he sank in the worlds esteem;
My stock went up while his went down,
Like the ends of a BEAM
What fault? Twas not one fault alone
That brought him low, but treacherous train
OF vices sapping the heart and brain.
Then came his turn at breaking stone
With ball and chain.
1t seemed admit, sort OF treason
TO clip him, and give him the cap and ball,
And that | was his keeper seemed worst of all
And now, in word if you ask the reason
OF this mans fall
Twas a woman again, is my reply.
And so said, and say IL 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.