River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-08-22
The Foreclosure Of the Mortgage.


Walk right in the settin'-room; it's all in a
muddle, you see,
But hadn't no heart to right it, so I've lest
let every thing be.
Besides. I'm a-goin' Tomorrow calk'late to
start with the dawn
And the house won't seem so home-iIke II It's
all upset and forlorn.
/ sent eff the children this mornin'; they both
on 'em begged to stay,
But thought twould be easier, mebbe, II l
was left alone to-day.
For this was the very day, Deacon, jest twenty
year ago,
That Caleb and me moved in; so couldn't
forgit it, you know,
We was so busy and happy we'd Den mar
ried a month before
And Caleb mould clear the table and brush up
the kitchen floor,
He said was tired, and he'd help me; but,
law! that was always his way
Always handy and helpful, ard kind, to the
very last day
Don't you remember, Deacon, that winter /
broke my arm?
Why, Caleb skursely left me, not even to tend
to the farm.
There night and mornin' / saw him, a-settin
so close to my bed,
And knew him in spite of the fever that
made me so wild IN my head.
He never did nothin' to grieye me, unth De
left me behind
Il
somehow it eases my mind.
And he sot such store by you, Deacon, 1
needn't tell you now,
But unless he had your Judgment, he never
would buy COW.
Well, our COW is gone, and the horse too--p 90
| Caleb was fond OF Jack,
And cried like a fool this mornln' when |
looked at the empty rack.
| / hope he'll be kindly treated; 'tWould worry
poor Caleb so
If them Jones should whip the cretur-but
s'pose he amt like to know.
| I've been thinkin' it oyer lately, that when
Mary sickened and died,
| Her fathers sperit was broken, for she was
| allps his pride.
He wasn't never so cherry; he'd smile, but
the smile want bright,
And he didn't care for the cattle, though once
they'd 0en his delight.
The neii-h5ors all said he was allin', and they
tried TO hint it to me;
They talked of church-yard cough; but, OH,
the blind are those who 'front.' see
/ never believed he was goin' till ! saw hin
a-layin' htge dead
] There, there! don't be anxious Deacon:
haven't no tears to shed.
I've tried to keep things together-Pye Der
slavin' early and late
But couldn't pay the int'rest, nor git the
teamwork straight.
SO of course I've gone behindhand, and ii the
For enough to pay the mortgage, | s'poss
twill be dom well.
I've prayed against all hard feelin's and t.
walk as a Christian ought,
But it's hard to see Caleb's children turned
out of the place he bought;
And readin' that text in the Bible bout wild
ows and orphans, you know,
| can't think the folks will prosper who art
willin to see us go.
But there! Pm a-keepin' you, Deacon, and
it's nigh your time for tea.
won't come oUer?' No. thank you; l feel
better alone, you see.
Besides, couldn't eat nothin'; whenever Fv'
tried it to-day
There's somethin' here that chokes me- I'm
narvous, s'pose you'll say.
I've worked too hard?' No, haven't Why
it's work that keeps me strong;
If sot there thinkin' Pm sartain my hear
would break before long.
Not that care about liv:n'. I'd ruther b'
laid away
In the place Pve marked beside Caleb, to res
till the Fundamentally.
But there's the children to think of-tha
makes my dooty clear,
And I'll try to foiler it, Deacon, though I'm
tired of this earthly speer.
Good-by, then. l sha'n't forgit you, nor al
the kindness you've showed;
Twill help to cheer me to-morrer, as l go OF
my LONELY road
For What are you sayin',' Deacon?
needn't needn't go?
Y0age bought the mortgage, and ! can stay
Stopl say it over slow
jest wait now-iest wait a minute-Ill take
in bime-by
That l can stay. Why, Deacan, don't know
what makes me cry!
haven't no words to thank you. Eff Gale
was only here.
He'd sech head for speakin', he'd make m
feelin clear.
, There's picter in our old Bible of an ahge
from the skies,
And though he hasn't no great-coat, and nj
spectacles on his eyes,
, He looks jest like you, Deacon, with you
smile so good and trew
And whenever / see that picter, will max
me think of you.
| The children viii be so happy! Why, Debb
will most go wild;
She fretted So much at leaving her gardinj
behind poor child
And, law, I'm as glad as Debby, ef onl
for Jest one thing
: Non can tend the poises | planted there las
spring
On Caleb's grave: he loved the flowers an
it seems us eff he'll know
They're a-bloomn' all around him while he
sleepin' there below.
MIS-. Z. I. CoRBETT, in Harper'S Magazin
for September.