The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-03-18
over the Hill to the Poor House.

oyer Gu0 I'LL 10 LILO 1OOI HOUSE,.
BY WILL NJ CARLETON.
Over the hill to the poor house, I'm trudgin my
weary way
I'm woman Of seventy and only a trife gray.
I, who am smart an cipher, for all the years I've
told,
AS many another woman that's only half as old
Over the hill to the poor house. can't make it clear
Over the hill to the poor house. it seems so horrid
queer;
Many step I've taken, a-toilin'to and fro,
But this is sort of journey never thought to go.
What's the use of heapin' paRper's shame ?
Am lazy crazy, am blind or lame?
True I'm not SO supple, nor yet SO awful stout;
But Charity amt no favor if can live without.
1 am willin' and snxious, an ready, any day,
To work for decent Twin, and pay my honest way;
For can earn my vietuals, an more, too, I'll be
bound,
If anybody only is willn to have me round
Once 1 was young an handsome, was, upon my
soul,
Once my cheeks roses my eyes black as COAL
And can't remember in them days of hearing peo-
pie SAL,
For any kind of reason, that in the way
Taint no of boastin' or talkin' over-free
But many house an home was open then to me;
Many handsome offer had from likely man,
.
An when to John was married, sure he was good
and smart:
But he and all the neighbors would own done my
part
For life was all before me- an young strong,
An worked the best could in tryin to get along.
An so we worked together, an life was hard butgay
With now an then baby to cheer US ON the way,
Till we had half dozen, an all growed clean and
neat,
An went to school like Others and had enough to
eat.
So worked for the chrildren, an raised them ev-
cry one,
Worked tor EN- summer an winter, Just as we ought
toye done.
Strange how much we think of our blessed little
I'd have died for my daughters, I'd have died for my
sons;
And God, He made that rule of love; but when we
are old and gray,
I've noticed it sometimes, somehow fails to work
the other way.
Strange another thing-wilen our boys and girls
An when, exceptin Charlie they'd left US all alone
When John, the near and nearer come an deareI
seemed to be,
The Lord of Hosts, He came day, and took him
away from me.
Still was to struggle on never to crnge fall,
ALL
And Charlie YVES pretty good to me- with scarce a
word or frown,
Till at last he went courtin. and brought q wife
from town
She was somewhat dressy and hadn't a plea SAINT
smile;
She was quite conceity, and carried heap o. style
But II ever l tried to be friends, did with her.
know:
But she was proud and hard, and could not make
60
She had an education, and that was good for her,
But when she twitted me on mine, twas carrying
things too fur;
An told her fore company an it almost MADE
her sick,
That never swallowed grammar or eat arithmetic
So it was only few days before the thing was done
They were family by themselves, an another one
And very little cottage family will do,
But have never seen house that was big enough
for two,
And never could speak to her. it never could
please her eye,
An it made me independent an then didn't try:
But was terribly staggered an felt it like blow,
When Charlie turned agin me, and told me / could
want to live with Susan; but susan's house was
small,
An she always hntin' how snug it was for all
And what with her husbands sister, an with her
children three,
Twas easy to discern there wasn't room for me.
Ard then went to Thomas, the eldest son I've got
For Thomas building covered the half of an acre
lot;
But all the children was on me- Icoud'nt stand their
sauce,
An Thomas said needn't think was comm there
to boss.
An then wrote to Rebeeca, ny girl who lived out
West
And to Isaac not far from her, some twenty miles
at best;
An one of EN- said twas too warm for any one SO
old,
And t'other had the opinion the climate was too
cold
So they have shirked and sighted me, and shifted
about,
So they have well nigh soured me- an wore my old
heart out;
But still I'VE borne up pretty WELL and wasn't much
put down,
Til Charlie went to the poor-master and put me on
the town.
Over the hill to the poor house, my children, dear
goodbye,
Many night I've watched you when only God was
nigh;
An He will judge between us but will always
pray,
That you shall never suffer the half do to-day.