Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-03-06
SHERIFF THoRNE.
BY J. T. rRowBRlDeE.

That should be sheriff and keep the jail.
A.Snr a SnS:. ss s:sy s: old sbsn see
Ny pris0ncr-well, tits q curious tale,
As you'll agree.
Together, and served our time-although
Not Just as you see us now, you know;
When we were younger both by score
OF years, or so.
When was wild colt two thirds grown,
Too wild for ever q curb or rein,
Playing my tricks till needn't explain
got three months at breaking stOne,
With bail and chain.
The fodder was mean and the work was hard,
And work and could never agree;
ras n o yo"
That eHrried mel
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 school boys jeered at my prison rig,
And me. II l moved, they used to call
lEOr went with jerk II l went at ALL
IA gentleman dancing the jail-bird jig
At county ball
But once, as sat in the usual place,
On . heap OF stones, and hammered away
At the fecke With : heart as hard as they,
And cured Macadam and all his race,
There chanccd that way,
Sir, the loveliest girl 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 snck as 1.
And, sir, to my soul that poor look gave
N n q n mr. no
With its twitter and futter of songs and wings
To one crouched all night long in Il cave
OF Ofvenomous things.
Down the broad street she passed from sight;
But all that day was under spell,
And all that night remember we'll
A pair OF eyes made kind of light
That filed my cell.
Women can do with men what they will;
Twas only village girl, but she,
With the flash of glance had shown to me
The wretch was, and the self still
Might strive to be.
And If in my misery began
70 feel fresh hope and courage stir,
To turn my back upon things that were
And my face to the future of man,
Twas all for her.
And that is nay 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 as guard him!
(The fetter l wore now fits his limbo
just one of your high flown, straightlaced 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 beam.
What fault? Twas no one fault alone
That brought him low, but a trea acherous train
Then came his turn at breaking st one.
With ball and chain
II 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 a word, il you ask the reason
OF this mans fall
Twas a woman again-is my reply.
And SO 1 said, and 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.
-itiaHtic M1nthIy,