The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1878-10-17
OLD ROBIN.
j. II. rRowBRIDGE.


Sell old Robin, do you say? Well, reckon
not to day
| | have let you'have your way with theland
!, With the meadows and the tallows draining
swamps and filling hollows
| And you re mighty deep, Dan Alvordl but
the sea itself has shadows,
And there are things that you don't under
stand
| You are not so green, of course, as to feed a
worn out horse,
! Out Of pity or remorse very long
| But as sure ash am master of a shed and bit
of pasture, H
Not for all the wealth, | warn you, Of a
Vanderbilt or Astor,
Win do old Robin there such wrong
1 He is old aud iame, alas Don t disturb him
as you pass
Let him lie there on the grass while he
may,
And enjoy the summer weather, free forever
from his tether
Sober veteran as you see him, we were young
and gay together:
1t was / who rode him tirst-ah, the day
I was just a little chap, in first pantaloons
| and cap,
| And left my mothers lap, at the door;
| And the reins hung loose and idle, Us we let
him prance and side--
For my father walked beside me, with his
hand upon the bride:
Yearlng colt and boy of five, hardly more
See him start and prick his ears see how
knowingly he leersl
| | believe he overhears every word;
| md I1o fltof ha
carries me and Frances.
| While my mother from the doorway follows
us with happy glances.
You may laugh, but-well of course it's alb
| surd @
Poor old Robin does he know how used
to cling and crow, lfs5
| As | rode him to and fro and around?
| Every day as we grew older, he grew gentler,
grew bolder
| Till a!hand upon the bride and touch
upon his shoulder,
| could vault into my seat with bound.
All, the nag you SO disdain, with his scanty
| tail and name,
| And that ridge pole to shed rain, called
back, H~ta
Then was taper limbed and glossy--so SUI
| peru creature was he
| And he arched his neck. SO graceful, and he
| tossed his tail, so saucy,
Like proudly waving plume, long and
black
He was light of hoof and fleet, / was supple,
| firm in seat,
And no sort of thing with feet, anywhere
In the country, could come nigh us; scarce
the swallows could outfit us,
But the planet spun beneath us, andthe sky
went whizzing by us,
In hurricane we made of air.
Then rode away to school in the morning s
fresh and cool
| Till, one day, beside the pool where he
i drank,
Leaning on my handsome trotter, glancng
4 up across the water
NJ The JUICES terraced orchard, there |
saw the Judges daughter.
In "a frame Of sunny boughs on the bank.
|
| Looking down on horse and boy, smiling
down so sweet and coy,
That | thrilled with bashful joy, when she
| said
| Voice as sweet as canary s." Would you
| like to get some cherries p
You are welcome as the birds are there
are nice ones on this terrace
| These are whitc-h in the tree over
head
Was it Robin more than J. that had pleased
her girlish eye
As she saw us prancing by? half fear
Off she ran, but not u great way white
hearts, black hearts, sweet hearts,
straghtway
Boy and horse were soon familiar with the
hospitable gate way,
And happy fool was for year.
Lord forgive an only child All the bless
ings on me piled
Had but helped to make me wild and per-
verse.
What is there in honest horses that should
lead vicious courses?
Racing, betting, idling, tipping, wasted
soon my best resources:
Small beginnings led TO more-and to worse
Father? happy in his grave Praying
mothers cannot save =
Mine? flattcrer and a slave to her son
Often Mary urged and pleaded and the good
Judge interceded,
Counscled blamed insisted, threatened ;
tears and threats were all nnheeded,
And | answered him in wrath it was
done