The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-10

That I should be sheriff, and keep the jail,
And that yonder stately old fellow, you see
Marching across the yard, should oe
Ny prIsoner-well tits curious taie'
As you'll agree.
For il happens we've been here once before
Together, and served our time-altnough
MOI inst as YOU see us now, you know;
When we were younger both by score
or years. or SO.
When was a wild colt two-thirds grown
Too wild for ever a curb or rein,
Playing my tricks till needn't explain
got three months at breaking stone,
With ball and chain.
The fodder was mean and the work was hard,
And work and could never agree:
And the discipline-weli, In short Won see
Twas rather roughish kind Of card
That curried me!
A stout steel bracelet about nv 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 sehOol-boys jeered at my prison rig,
And me, II moved, they used to call,
lFor went with jerk, II went al all,
"A gentleman dancing the Jail-blrd Jig
Al county ball :"
But once, as sat in the usual place.
On heap OF stones, and hammered away
Al Al the S rocks with heart as hard as they,
There-chanced that way,
Sir, the loveliest grill 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 I.
And, sir, 10 my soul that pure look gave
With lis fsFitter and futter OF songs and wings
To one crouched all Night long in a cave
or yenomous things
Down the broad green street she passed from
sight;
But ali that day I was under a spell,
And all that night remember well
A pair OF eyes made a kind OF light
That niled my cell
Women can do with ms what they will;
Twas only village girl, but she,
With the lash OF a glance, had shown 10 me
The wretch was. and the self still
Might strive to be.
And II In my misery began
To feel fresh hope and courage stir
To turn my back upon things that were,
And my face 10 the future Of man
Twas all for her
And that il my 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
And tipped me that very peculiar bow
But th3t is the WOnderful part OF the Tale
As you'll allow.
For he, you must know, was Sheriff then,
And he guarded me as / guard him!
tThe fetier wore now fits his limbD
Just one Of your high-fiown, straight-laced 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:
Ny 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 a treachefous train
OF vices sapping the heart and brain.
Then came his turn at breaking stone
With ball and chain.
II seemed, admit, a 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 a word, II you ask the reason
or this mans fall
Twas a woman again, is my reply.
And 50 said, and say 10 still,
That women can do with US what they will:
Strong men they turn with the twirl OF an eve,
For good OF i'll.