The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-05-24
Roffirsl.
THE YAGABONDS.

|
! Over the table-look out for the lamI
The rogue is growing little old;
Five years we've tramped throug
wind and weather,
And slept out doors when nights wer
cold,
And ate, and drank, and-starved tc
gether.
We've learned what comfort is, I tel
A bed on the floor, bit of rosin,
4 fire to thaw our thumbs (poor fellow
The paw he holds up there's beer
frozen0
Plenty of catgut for my fiddle
(This out door business is bad fo
strings,)
Then few nice buckwheats hot from
the griddle,
And Roger and I set up for kings.
No, thank ye. sir-I never drink;
Roger and / are exceedingly moral,
Amt we Roger? See him wink!
Well, something hot, then-we won
quarrel.
He's thirsty, too. See him nod hi
head?
What pity, sir, that dogs can't talk
He understands every word that's said
And he knows good milk from water
and chalk.
The truth is, sir, now l reflect,
I've been so sadly given to grog
l wonder I've not lost the respect
(Here's to you, sir.) even of my dog
But he sticks by, through thick and thin
And this old coat, with its empty
pockets
And rags that smell of tobacco and gin
He'll follow while he has eyes in his
sockets.
There isn't another creature living
Would do it, and prove through every
disaster
So fond, so faithful, and so forgiving
To such miserable thankless master.
No, sir. See him wag his tail and grin.
By George! it makes my old eyes
water:
That is, there's something in this gin
That ehokes a fellow.-but no matter.
Well have some music, ifyou're willing,
And Roger (heml what a plague a
cough is, sir,) -sr-E .
Shall march a little. Start, you william
Stand straight Bout Ece. Salute your
officer! .-.-.. q.
Put up that paw! Dress Take your rifle
(Some dogs have arms, you see.) Now
hold your ...-
Cap while the gentlemen give trifie
To aid poor old patriot soldier.
March Halt Now show how the rebel
shakes .--
When he stands up to hear his sem
tence. ...-
Now tell us how many drains it takes
To honor jolly new acquaintance,
Five yelps-thats five; he's mighty
knowing.
The nights before us-.fill the glasses.
Quick, sir. I'm ill-my brain is going
Some brandy-thank you There-it
passes.
Why not reform. That's easily said;
But I've gone through such wretched
treatment,
Sometimes forgetting the taste of bread,
And scarce remembering what meat
meant --g- Dos
That my poor stomach's past reform;
And there are times, when mad with
r thinking,
I'd sell out heaven for something warm
To prop q 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.
If you could have seen these classic fea-
lures
You needn't laugh, sir. They were
not then
Such 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 I, sir, should be straying
From door to door, with fiddle and
dog,
Ragged and penniless, and playing
Toyou tonight for glass of grog.
She married since-a parsons wife;
Twas better for her that we should
part
Better the soberest, prosiest life
Than blasted home and broken
heart
1 have seen her? Once. 1 was wea
and spent
On dusty road. A carriage stopped
But little she dreamed, as on she went
Who kissed the coin that her finger:
dropped. ~
You've set me talking, sir. I'm sorry
1t makes me wild to thing of tht
change. 80
What do you care for beggar's story
Is it amusing? You find it strange
had mother so proud of me.
Twas well she died before Do yol
If the happy spirits in heaven can see
The ruin ana wretchedness here be
low?
Another glass, and strong, to deaden
This pain; then Roger and / will start
wonder has he such lumpish, leaden
Aching thing. in place of a heart
He is sad sometimes, and would weep
he could,
! No doubt, remembering things tina
i were
! A yirtuous kennel, with plenty of food
i And himself sober, respectable cul
I'm better now-that glass was warm
ing -..- ---
j You rascal timber your lazy feet
We must be fiddling and performing
For supper and bed or starve in tn
| street
Not very gay life tolead, you think?
But soon We will go where lodging
are free,
IL