Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-05-20
OLD ABErS EXPERIENCE.

So you're thinking of marriage, Joseph-welI
well, l've naught to say;
Most young folks (Ind some of the old onesl
seem to incline that way.
But l'ye always liked you, Joseph; you've
been Very kind to me,
And TO know yOu re coming to trouble, why il
makes me sorry, You see.
There now, Joseph, you re angry; twas foolish
in mt, no doubt.
didn't mean to say 1t, but somehow the words
Slipped out.
You'll have to forgive me, Joseph; You know
Pm silly and old.
Shake hands; and l. II tell you story that has
never yet been told;
And perhaps when my story's cndel, you'll b,.
ready, my friend, to say,
cold Abel had very good reason ror his doubts
and fears tO-dav.''
1 was sXty-fve last birth!ay-I'm gray and
wrinkled, tits true;
But lOrty years ago, Joseph, WAS young and as
spry as you,
And Amy said was handsome-how proul it
made me then
Not the praise, but the thought that Amy pr,.-
ferred mrto other men.
She Was Il little beauty, sweet and dmpled and
fair; l- .... ....
You never saw such q mouth, j ,seph, nor silrI
brown eyes and hair
And she hal such a coaxing way, too, Tint
was fool, L know,
And I'M hardly cured oil my folly, though IT.
forty years ago.
Amy and were pliymates; We went To sc!,oo
together;
L carried her books and her basket through sun
mer or winter weather
Later, at husklnS Tolics. ut quilting or appl,
was always her chosen sweethe. 1T. and thai
was bliss for me.
Time and thought and service gladly to her
gave;
She was my queen, my IDOL was her wrlin.
slave.
And so, when She was twenty, and T was TWEEN.
ty-iive,
We We're married: thought that WIS the hap
picst man alive.
fairly cried when the parson pronounced IL:
anu wife,
For hadn't Won the angel rd been worsafpin.
all lmy life?
id built and furnished cottage as pretty ~
any in town.
Whatever knew she fincied, | couldn't res
till bought,
So in trying TO please my darling 1 spent IA
more than ought.
But when she smiled, and called me 'dcos Able
ami praised my taste,
What did care il the neighbOTs t:lkei of ioll,
and waste2
For a little while was happy: too soon ! vi
forced 10 see
That ANY could be neglectful, and even crn-
to me.
When sometimes limited gently that the hou,s
wasn't very nraI,
Or lef. the food untastcd that Was scarcely ii
10 eat,
She'd answer me so harshy, and say such cut
| ting things,
They gave me many he:rtachc: ;ili trO,.,Js hay
| tcrribl. stings!
| AT last saw 1t piainiy-her life too dull ha,
| grown;
She was Tired OF her homely clufies-;Irrd %
| seeing me alone.
Was always contentcd and happy Just at he
| side To he,
| But shr-ind that was bitter-found soInrtEIn.
| wanting III me.
It's too long story, Joseph. to tell you how
| sirOvc
| To please and interest Amy, and 10 keep he
| i:.ing love:
My farm was lelt INTENDED, my aloci. TO ru
| went.
| Whil. we iourncy,d about and ;,u, 81, 80
little fortune spent;
fhen back We went TO our colt.,ger-it never. ha
Ii could only crow more eheerless in the v..:.r
| years to come.
Weary and dlrcary found them, till ! grew (,
| And to think hard thoughts of all women. h,.
| ciuse was grievci INV wife
One day-can ever forget il we'd been mar
| ried Just seven years
| l went out us usual, wrcichc,t, laayin.. Ann II
| angry tears.
As walked found myself praying that Go
would send help 10 me,
| Never ihrnkIns-oh, mercr thinkiu--of wiz,
| the answer might he
Bcfor" that day WAS OYER stood by AIuv's l,,. /
| And SAW her peaceful, amt smiling and lr..Iti
| ful-yes, and-dcHd
l had said my love was over, but then knew
| wrong;
| Knew when kissed her my darling. I'd hrr
| LOVING her all along;
Knew when looked III the baby, laid.on hc
| arm to rest,
That my heart was dead within me- and dI,.louI
stone IN my breast
Well, there's liltle more 10 tell YOU coul,in'
| bear TO stay
In the house had built for Amy;I sold if. AN
| moved away
| Where TO go next l knew not-a!I places wei
| much the SIInc-
Till my nephew wrote an ! bad" mr come here
and so came.
Since then l've hardly noticed how the lionel
| years Wenton.
I've had chances FOR making money, hut my rr
| ersv seemed gone
| Hcsides. / wanted ;" little, and why should
| tofi ana save,
When She VIII" shnuld have spent it rnst, in n,
| quiet grave?
So you see us natural, Joseph, that shnul
| have doubts and fears,
| When think of my disappointment and all n,
| lonely Years.
And yet-i've often thought it-irI WIS twcpty
| five,
And had my life all before me- and Amy one
| more alive,
I'd marry her-never doub5 ii-:nd loy. her
| yes. all the same:
So, after all is said, Joseph. you re not so mur
! Z" blame
'-lH.rpei' Mig tEic for June.