The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-09-04
WEEDS.

That cabin rude of rOtting logs, whose doorits
hinges lacks:
Before II stand two starveling ours, a brush
heap and AN AK;
Behind il, ranged in crooked rows, is maize OF
varying height;
One side, some stunted cabbages that sore
the slug worms smitc:
4 broken worm fence round the place which
much repairing needs.
Where in the corners densely grow the rank
est nOXiOus weeks
That has been William Elkin's home II home
should be the name
Oh any place where folk reside with idleness
and shame.
Kind NOndcr house across the road, low rooted
and spreading wide.
\ well kept lawn before the door, its owner :
honest pride:
The wood shed filed, the stables trim. the
fowls in yard inclosed;
The kennel snug where Bose for years alter
nate watched and dozed;
The long, straight rows OF deep green maize
the garden filled with all
The toothsome plants in thrifty growth, from
early spring to fall;
The fruit trees IN the angles of the needless
Budd Martin closes there a life of well earned
competence.
quite remember when they came-I was OF
age that year;
Twas nothing but = wilderness when those
two settled here
Each took quarter section as a homestead
land was free:
Each built a cabin, and attacked with vigor
rock and tree;
But Elkin coming first secured the choicer
piece of land,
\ gently sIoping knoll that had a brook on
either hand;
While Martin got piece of ground more bro
ken and less rich.
With fourteen acres lying low, that he must
drain or ditch.
Both laborcd lDng and labored wei and broke
and cleared the ground;
And field on field was put in filth, and all
looked well around.
The virgin soil gave heavy crops, sweet grass
and golden grain
Filled hay NOV high, and corn crib full, while
crealled the loaded vain;
And all the settlers far and near in passing by
the place,
Agreed that to prosperous goal the two made
And all was well till Barton came, and he, his
bread to win,
Where crossed the roads, mile away, opened
the Farmers Inn.
\ pleasant man was Barton, and he kept
pleasant place,
And bore look of welcome in his round and
iOllN face:
And Elkin, twice a week or SO, to taste "the
fine old rye"
Would sumter out to Barton's there but Mar
tin he shy.
His farm engaged his mind too much - che
had no time to spare"
his quiet air,
And mimcked all he said 80 well that Barton
and the rest
Declared of all drol fellows round, Bill EIkin
was the best.
They bore all this to Martin. "WeH," he said
che means no harm,
But every weed grown i'm Il man brings thou
sands to his farm.
I've many here to trouble me; clean cultures
hard to win:
But, as with those that spring from EARTH try
to pillow them in.
Bad habits are rank growing weeds; yet, if
you perScvere,
And pull them up, or pillow them in, the ground
will soon he clear:
But he who waits. and lets them grow and
bloom and come to seed,
viii have to harvest in the end Il fearful crop
indeed"
And so the weeds i'm Elkin's life, and weeds on
Elkin'S farm,
Grew both apace, and in the end brought farm
and man to harm.
While Martin throve, and found his ground its
yearly crop increase,
And won his way to competence and happi-
ness and peace.
Poor Elllin's farm and ElSin's self went down
in every way,
Until the mortgage which he gave has been
forcclosed to-day,
And all his wrctched family, homeless, and
scant of friends,
Are pensioners on Martin now-and so my
story ends.
-Thos, Dunn English, in the ". ]. Ledger.