The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-02-26
JASPER DEANS MUSINGS.
EY DANIEL CONNOLLY.

ry DANIEL. CONNOLLY.
The apples were red in the orchard, the mead
ows were sober and bare, ,
The woods were aaamc with sp!endor tha'
glowcd in the gloriicd air.
Through the valley tremulous inurmur ran
tlrowsily all the day LONG,
Where brook kissed the pebbles and passed
them and sang its perpetual song
Leaning over the gate OF his garden, the leaves
all awhrl at his feet,
,Jasncr Dean unused, like enc who was dreaming
a dream far more bitter than sweet.
arsm fifty years old this October" he muttercd,
land how do stanuE
We'll. own smart house and two hundred good
acres Of tOlraOlc land.
There is many q man would be happy with
half what I've got TO my name,
Bu. Pm not; and ! reckon most likely there's
suthin or other to blame.
"There's reclin' that sometimes comes on me
and mostly at this time o year
When the birds fly away and the dimness give:
notice that winter is near
There's fcclin' that sometimes comes on me
and makes me half wish to be dead;
Ard ! don't know exactly what brings it 10 buzz
like a bee in my head.
." Is may be the change o. the seasons, with death
and decay all around;
Or it may bc u wish grown stronger for suthin'
that amt to be found.
There is hurdly day but the nciChborS are
talkin' about my affairs.
don't thank en- flor mindin' my business, I'm
sure don't NEEDLE with theirs.
Eut they talk aud they talk, and the drift Of it all
is about my dull life.
n is dull, I know that very well but I'm now
past the time for wife.
When man touches fifty, like me, lac had bet
ter be Sayin' his prayers
Than frcttn himself about women and runnin'
his head INTO snnres.
There was Ahsalom Brown, that went oil and
got married at most fifty.ti
u he hadn't done that, don't doubt but the crit
ter would till be alive.
But the woman he took, shc just worried his
wits ont in less n a year
Though when he went OF she was ready with
many a crocodile tear
But women arc not o. that sort. There are
plenty rs good as can be,
And If ! had married at thirty it might have
been better for me.
There's the house, and good one il is--not a
better the country can show;
But never 20 in without feeln a dulncss, in.
stead OF glow.
"A home may seem ever so pleasant aud ever so
neat and so fine,
And still have no comfort within it; and that's
what's the matter with mine.
There is never Il voice TO give welcome and
never glad smile to greet,
and my heart never throbs to the musical patti
OF innocent feet.
Whats the use OF a man always strivin'? He
gains but little al last;
And it Centrally comes, il at all, when the time
to enjoy 1t is past.
Now, If had married at thirty, as had a no
ton to do,
Who can tel but my heart would be lighter, the
home more pleasant one, too?
But somehow | waited and waited; and now
am fifty year old.
There Is plenty o frost in INV hair aud NV blood
has grown sluggish and cold
i feel more like Resin than workin', and every
year that goes by
Pears to tell me I'd better be careful and leaves
me iric less spry.
And suthin' CONES on me in autumn--I don't
know crGrtiv what uny.
That makes me feel sad like aud solemn aud sets
all my idces astray.
&" 1t may be the change @ the seasons with death
aud decay all around,
Or it may bc wishin' and lougn' for su:hin'
that ART to be found.
man without some one to care for /, not
what man ought to be-
And home without some one TO cheer II amt
pleasant to have or ito see.
"Now, if I had married at thirty--pshaw, here
am dryciin' on,
With lot D things stu to be seen TO and the
sun, ., | live, almost gone!
"1Acres a chill in the mir about sundowa.
reckon Id better get round
Or III have that old rheumatic shUOtin' all
through me agcn, Ill be bound"