Middletown transcript., 1875-03-06
HOW BETSEY AND I MADE UP

have quarreled here.
HOW BETSEY AND I MADE UP.
FARM BALLAD. BY WILL NJ. CARLETON.
Give us your hand, Mr.. Lawyer how do you
do to-day?
You drew up that paper-I s'pose you want
your pay.
Don't cut down your figures make it an x
oraV;
For that ere written agreement was just the
maxim of me.
Coin home that evenin' tell you was blue,
Tbinkin' Of all my troubles, and what was
goin' to do;
And if my hosses hadn't been the steadiest
team alive,
They'd we tipped me over, certain, for
couldn't see where to drive.
No-for was laberin under heavy load !;
No-for was travelin' an entirely different
road;
r OF WAS d-trdciH oSeT tue Path vi Jul h'e9
agin.
And seein' where we missed the way, and
where we might have been.
And many corner we'd turned that just to
quarrel led,
When ought to We held my temper, and
driven straight ahead;
And the more thought it over the more these
memories came,
And the more struck the opinion that was
the most to blame.
And things had long forgotten kept risin'
in my mind,
Of little matters betwixt US, where Betsey was
good and kind;
And these things they flashed all through me,
as you know things sometimes will
When a feller's alone in the darkness, and
every thing is still.
"But," says l, "we're too far along to take
another track,
And v hen put my hand to the plow l do
not oft turn back
And 'taint an uncommon thing now for
couples to smash in two;"
And so l set my teeth together, and vowed
I'd see it through.
When | come in sight O. the house twas
some at in the night,
And Just as turned the hilltop | see the
kitchen light;
Which often han some pictur' to hungry
person makes,
But it don't interest feller much that's goin'
to pull up stakes.
And when went in the house the table was
set for me-
As good supper's ever saw, or ever want
to see;
And l crammed the agreement down my
pocket as well as could,
And fell to eatin' my victuals, which some
how didn't taste good.
And Betsey she pretended to look about the
house,
But she watched my side coat pocket like a
cat would watch mouse;
And then she went to foolin' little with her
cup,
And intently readin' newspaper, a-holdin'
it wrong side up
And when I'd done my supper drawed the
agreement out,
Ard r,;vo Il tn bor w;thnnt word for she
knowed what twas about;
And then hummed little tune, but now
and then a note
Was busted by some animal that hopped up
in my throat.
Then Betsey she got her specs from off the
mantel-shelf
And read the article over quite softly to her
self;
Read it by little and little, for her eyes is get
tin old,
And lawyers writin' amt no print, especially
when it's cold.
And after she read little she give my arm
touch,
And kindly said she was afraid l was lowin'
her too much;
But when she was through she went for me,
her face a-streamin' with tears,
And kissed me tor the first time in over twen-
ty years.
don't know what you'll think, Sir-I didn't
come IN inouire-
But picked up that agreement and stuffed it
in the fire;
And told her we bury the hatchet along
side of the COW;
And we struck an agreement never to have
another row.
And told her in the future wouldn't speak
cross or rash
If half the crockery in the house was broken
all to smash;
And she said, in regards 10 heaven, we'd try
and learn its worth
By startin' branch establishment and run
min it here on earth.
And SO we sat a-talkin' three-quarters Of the
night,
And opened our hearts to each other until
they both grew light;
And the days when was winnin' her away
from so many men
Was nothin' to that evenin' I courted her
ever again.
Next mornin' an ancient virgin took pains to
call on us,
Her lamp all trimmed and a-burnin' to kindle
another fuss;
But when she went 10 pryin and openin' of
old sores,