Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-02-11
SHERIFF THORNE,
Or What Ttco Women Did.
BY. TRowBRIDGE.

That should be sheriff, and keep the jail,
And that yonder stately old fellow you see
Marching across the yard should be
My prisoner-well tits a curious tale.
As you'll agree.
For t happens, we've been here once before
Together and served our tme,-although
Not just as you see us now. you know;
When we were younger both by a. score
OF years, or so.
When was wild colt two.thrls grown,
Too wild for even curb or rein,
Playing my tricks till needn't eX plain;-
I got three months at breaking stone,
With ball and chair.
The fodder was mean. and the work was hard.
And work and could never agree,
And the dlsciplne-well. is short you see,
Twas rather roughish kind of 4 card
that curried me.
A stout steel bracelet about my leg,
A cannon shot and chain at my feet.
Ipounded the stones in the public street,
With heart crammed full of hate as egg
Is full of meat
The schooboys jeered at my prison zig,
And me, Ii moved, they used to call
fFor l went with jerk il I went at ally
a gentleman dancing the ia l-bird jig
At country ball
But once, as ! sat in the usual place,
On heap OF stones anil hammered away
At the rocks with a heart rs hard as they,
And cursed McAlam and all his race
There chanced that way.
Sir, the loveliest girll don't mean pretty,
But Ihele was that in her troubled eye,
In her sweet. sad glance she passed me by,
That seemed like an angels gentle pity
For such as |.
And, sir, to my soul that pure look gave
Such thrill summer morning brings
With Its twItter and iutter OF songs and wings,
To one crouchel all night long in IA cave
OF yenomous things.
Down the broal green street she 2asse from sight
But all that day was under a spell.
And all that nIsht-I remember we'll
a pair of eyes made a kind of light
That filled my cell.
Woman do W III what they will
twas only village girl but she,
With the flash of Il glance had shown 10 me
The wretch WAS, and the self still
Might strive to be.
And if in my mise | began
TO feel fresh hope ahd courage STIR
t. turn my back upon things that were,
And my face SO the fortune of dman,-
Twas all for her.
Andahat is my story. AMI as for the lady?
l SAW her-Oh, yes-when was free,
And thanked her, and-wel come with me;
As likely as not when supper is ready
She III pour your tea.
She keeps my house and keep the jtil;
And the stately old fellow tn 1t passed. just now.
And tipped me that vely peculiar bow
But that IS the nderiul part OF the II lc,
AS you'll allow.
For he, you must know, was sheriff then,
And he guarded me as guard him.
(Ihe fetter wore now fits his limbD
Just one of your high flown, stralsht-lace1 men.
Pompous and grim
The Great Mogul OF our little town
But while was struggling to redeem
Ny youth he sank in the worlds estech:
My stock went up while his went down,
Like the end of a beam.
What fault? 'Twas not one fault alone
That brought him low, but a trelcheroas train
Of wees, sapplnS the neat ana brain.
Then came his turn at beakIng stone,
With ball aud chain.
1t seemed, almit, Il sort of treason
To clip him, and give him the cap and ball,
And that was his keeper seemed worst of al
And now, in a word ii you ask the reason
OF this mans fall
twas a woman again-is my reply.
And so l said, and say It stlll,
That women can do with IL what they will:
Strong men they turn with the twirl OF an eye,
For good or i'll.
February .ftidakic.