The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-05-30
&0ettN.
THE; vAGABoNDs.

We are two travellers, Roger and 1.
Rogers my dog Come here you scampl
Jump for the gentlemen-mind your eyel
over the tabe-l0ok out for the lamp
The rogue is growing little old;
Five years we've tramped through wind and
weather
And slept out doors when nights were cold
And ate, and drank, and-starved together
We've learned what comfort Is, tell you;
bed on the floor, bit Of rosn
A fire 10 thaw our thumbs (pOoT lelowl
The paw he holds up there's been frOzen),
Plenty of catgut for my fiddle
Crhls outdoor business IL bad for strngs),
Then few nice buckwheats hot from the grlddle,
And Roger and set up for kings.
No, thank ye, sIr--I never drink
Roger and are exceedingly moral,
Aren't We Roger2 See him wink
Well, something hot then-we won't quarrel.
He's thirsty, too. See him nod his head?
What pity, sir, that dogs can't talk
He understands every word that's sald
And he knows good milk from waterand.chalk.
The truth Is, sir, now | reflect,
I've been so sadly given to grog
I wonder I'VE not lost the respect
(Heres to you srD 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 fOrgIvlng
To such miserable thankess master
No, sir See him wag his tail and grlnl
BY George II makes my old eyes wateri
| That is there's something in this gin
That chokes fellow-but no matter
| Wen have some music II you're willing,
And Roger (aheml what plague cough Is, sir I!
Shall march little, Start, you villain
Stand straight Bout face Salute your officer
Put up that paw Dress! Take your rlhel
Some dogs have arms, you see) Now hold your
| Cap while the gentlemen give trihe
TO aida poor, old patriot soldier
March! Halt! Now show how the rebel shakes
When he stands up to hear his sentence.
Now tell us how many drains 1t takes
10 honor jolly new acquaintance,
Five yelps-thats five; he's mighty knowing,
The nights before us-An the gassesl
Quick sir I'm ill-my brain is going
Some brandy-thank you There-it passes
Why not reform2 That's easily snld
But I've gone through such wretched treatment
Sometimes forgetting the taste of brendl
And scarce remembering what meat meant,
That my poor stomNchs past reform;
And there are times when, mad with thinking,
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 1t ends.
If you could have seen these classic features
You needn't laugh, sir. They were not then
Such burning libel on Gods creatures;
I was one of your handsome men,
If you had seen her, so fair and young,
Whose head was happy on this breast7
If you could have heard the songs sung
When the wine went round, you wouldn't hay
guessed
That ever l, sir, should be straying
From door to door, with fiddle and dog
Ragged and penniless and playing
To you tonight for glass of grog
She's married slnce-a parsons wife;
Twas better for her that we should part
Better the soberest, proslest life
Than blasted home and broken heart.
have seen her2 Once. was weak and spent
On a dusty road. carriage stopped
But little she dreamed, as on she went,
Who kissed the coin that her fingers dropped,
You've set me talking, sir. I'm sorry.
1t makes me wild to think Of the change.
What do you care for beggar's story?
Is 1t amusing? You find 1t strange?
had mother so proud of mel
Twas better she died before Do you know
If the happy spirits In heaven can see
The ruin and wretchedness here below?
Another glass, and strong to deaden
This pain; then Roger and will start.
wonder has he such lumpish, leaden,
Aching thing, in place of heart!
He is sad sometimes and would weep he could,
No doubt remembering things that were
A virtuous kennel with plenty of food,
And himself o SOBER respectable cur.
I'm better now-that glass was warming
You rascal timber your lazy feet;
We must be hddling and performing
For supper and bed, or starve in the street.
Not very gay life to lead you think?
But soon we will 20 where lodgings are free,
And the sleepers need neither victuals nor drink
The sooner the better for Roger and me-
i T. TTOWbridge