Sharp County record., 1879-10-02
WEEDS.

That cabin rude of rotting logs, whose doorits
hinges lacks;
Before IL stand two staryeling ours, brush
heap and an AK;
Behind it, ranged in crooked rows, is maize Of
varying height;
One side, some stunted cabbagcs, that sore
the slug worms smite;
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
OF any place where folk reside with idleness
and shame.
And yondcr house across the road, low rooted
and spreading wide;
A well kept lawn before the door, its owners
honest pride;
The wood-shed filled, 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 maze )
the garden filled with all
The toothsome plants in thrifty growth, from
early spring to fall;
The fruit trees i'm the angles OF the weedless
Budd Martin closes there life OF well earned
competence.
1 quite remember when they camel was of
age that year;
'Twas nothing but wilderness when those
two settled here.
Each took a quarter section as 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,
A gently sIoping knoll that had a brook on
either hand;
While Martin got a piece Of ground more bro
ken and less rich,
With fourteen acres lying low, that ne must
drain or ditch.
Both laborcd long and labOred well, and broke
and cleared the ground;
And field on field was put in tilth, and all
looked well around.
The virgin soil gave heavy crops, sweet grass
and golden grain
Filled hay NOW high, and corn CRIB tull, while
creaked the loaded vain;
And all the settlers far and near in passing by
the place,
Agreed that to prosperous goal the two made
even pace;
And all was well till Barton came, ana he, ms
bread to win,
Where crossed the roads, mile away, opened
the Farmers Inn.
A pleasant man was Barton, and he kept
pleasant place,
And bore a look of welcome in his round and
jolly face;
And Elkin, twice week or so, to taste 1.-THE
fine old rye"
Would saunter out to BartOn's there; but Mar
tin he was shy.
Ellis farm engaged his mind too much;" "he
had no time to spare"
But Ell<in only laughed at that, and Knocked
his quiet air,
And mimicl<ed all he said so well that Barton
and the rest
Declared of all dron fellows round, Bill Elldn
was the best.
They bore all this to Martin. ''Well," he said,
che means no harm,
But every weed grown in 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, l try
to plOw them in.
Bad habits are rank growing weeds; yet, If
you persevere,
And pull them up, orplow themi in, the ground
will soon be clear;
But he who waits, and lets them grow and
bloom and come to seed
Will have to harvest in the end fearful crop
indeed"
And 50 the weeds in Elkin'shife, and weeds on
Grew both apace, and in thd lend brdp dpght farp
and man to harm. X
While Martin tllrove, and SJn2 hisN Touh9 iS5
yearly crop increaseH T.
And won his way to compkfnce and happi-
ness and peace.
Poor Elkin's farm and Elkin's self went down
in every way,
Until the mortgage which he gave has been
foreclosed to-day,
And all his wretched family, homeless, and
scant of friends,
Are pensioners on Martin nOw-and so my
story ends.
--Thos. Dunn English, IN the ". Y. Ledger.