Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-09-06
Poetry.
The vagabOndS.

We are two travellers, Roger and T.
} Rogers by dog,-Come here, you scampl
Jump for the gentleman, mind your eye!
Over The table, out for he..lamp!- =
The rogue is growing a little old;
Five years we've tramped through wind an
weather,
And slept outdoors when nights " err cold
And ate and drank-and starycd-to9cther
We've learned what comfort is, I tell you!
y bed on the floor, biz Of rosin
a fire to thaw our thumbs (poOr fellow
The paw ne holds up there's been frozen).
Plenty of catgut for my fiddle
(lhis out-tloOr business is had for strings,
Then few nice buckwheats hot from til
griddle.
And Roger and | set up for kings!
No, ih~nh ye, sir,-I never drink;
Roger and src eAcr~a,i' nsly moral
Arn't We Roger?-See him wink
Wen, something hot ,ihen-we won I quarrel
| lie setirsty, too,-see him nod his head
what pity, sir, that dogs can t talk!
! lie understands every word that : said -
And he knows good milk from water-and.
! chalk.
lhe truth IS. sir, now l reflect
I've been so sadly given 10 gfos;
wonder We not lost the respect
Niere's to YOU. sir!) even of my dog
But he sticks by, through thick and thin:
Ana thi> oid coat, with its empty pockets
And rags that smell Of tobacco and gin.
He'll follow while he has ewes In his sockets
llere isn I another creature living
pul and
So fond, 50 faithful, and 50 fDryiyinc,
To such miserable. rs,Atkless master,
No. sir'-see him wag his tail and grin,
hF George! 1t makes my old eyes water
lhat Is, there's something in this gin
mat chokes II fellow. But no matter!
Wen have some music, if you re willing,
AND Roger chem! what a plague a cold is,
sir)
Shall march little-start YOU villain,
saws up! Eyes front! Salute Your officer!
Bout face! Attention, Take your rifle!
teoihe dogs have arms, you seeD Now hold
Cap while the gentlemen give trine,
To aid poor old patriot soldier!
March. Halt! Now show how the rebel shakes
" iic" ne o!'D'.s up 10 near his sentence.
Now tell IL how many drains ii takes
To honor jolly new acquaintance
fNeye ye!p>.-that's five: he 's mighty knowing!
The nights before us, fill the glasses.->
Quick, sir! I'm i'll. l.--my brain is go;ng,--
Some brandy thank you there! -it,,asse,i
Why not rcforrn2 That's easily safd:
But I've gone through such wretchcd treat
mcnt,
sometimes forgetting the taste of bread,
And scarce remembering what meat meant, !
lhat my poor stomach ) past reform: |
And there are times, when mad with think |
ing,
I'd sell out heaven for something warm !
To prop horrible inward sinking.
Is there way to forget to think?
At your age, sir, home, fortune. friends. !
a dear girls love.-but took to drink
The same old story: you know how it ends.
III you could have seen these classic features,-
You needn' laugh, sir; they were not then
Such a burning libel on Gods creatures;
was one of your handsome men!
If you had seen her, so fair and young,
Whose head was happy on this breast!
If you could have heard the songs sung
When the wine went round, you wouldn't
have guessed
That ever l, sir, should he straying
From door to door with fiddle and dog,
Ragged and pennle5S, and PLAYING
To you tonight for Il glass of grog!
She's married since. "a parsons wife;
Twas better for her that we should part
Better the sOberest. prosiest life
Than blasted home and a broken heart
have seen her? Once; l was weak and spent
On the dusty road carriage stopped;
But little she dreamed, Il. on she went
Who kissed the coin that her fingers dropped!
You've set me talking, sir: Pm sorry;
IL makes me wild TO think of the change!
What do you care for a beggar's story? !,
Is it amusing? you find it strange?
had mother SO proud of me,
Twas well She died before-DO YOU know
If the happy spirits in heaven can see
The ruin and wrechedness here below?
Another glass, and strong. to deaden
This pain; then Roger and will start.
wonder has he such a lumpish leaden,
Aching thing in place of heart?
lie is sad sometimes, and would weep, ifhe
could,
No doubt, remembering things that were,
A virtnous kennel, with plenty of food,
And himseifa sober, respectable cur.
I'm better now; that glass was warming
You rascal, timber Your lazy feet!
We must be adding and performing
For supper and bed, or sarve in the street. ]
Not very gay life TO lead you think?
But soon we shah go where lodgings are free, ,
And the sleepers need neither yictuals nor
drink
The soonHr the better for Roger and me.