Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-06-13
VOL. VII.
The Lightning-ROd Dispenser.

With poem in his motions, with sermon in
his mein,
With hands as white as lilies, and face un-
common clean.
No wrinkle had his vestments, and his linen
gstened white,
And his new-constructed necktie was an inter-
esting sight,
Which | almost wished his razor had made |
red that white-skinned throat,
And the new-constructed necktie had CON-
posed hangman's knot,
IRE he brought his trimmed carcass for
my women folks to see,
And his rip-saw tongue buzzin' for to gouge |
a cash in me.
Bui nonldn't holp but like him-ss always
think must
The gold of my own doctrines in fellow-heap
oil dust
When fired my own opinions at this person,
round by round,
They lrew an answering volley, of very
similar sound;
! touched him on religion, and the hopes my
heart had known;
He said he'd had experiences quite similar OF
his own.
told him of the doubtin's that made dark my
early years.
He had laid awake till morning with that
same old breed OF fears.
| told him of the rough path [ hoped to heaven
to go;
He was on that very ladder, only just round
below.
| told him of my visions of the sinfulness OF
gain;
He had seen the self-same picters, though not
quite so clear and plain.
Our politics was different, and at first he CALLED
and WINGED;
But l arg'ed him so able, he was very soon
convinced
And twas getting toward the middle of a hum
cry summer day;
There was dinner on the table, and l asked
him would he stay?
And he sat down among us, everlasting trim
and neat
And asked short, crisp blessing, almost good
enough to eat;
Then he tiredup on the mercies OF our Great
Eternal Friend,
And gave the Lord Almighty good, first-class
recommends;
| And Tor full an hour we listened to the sugar.
coated scamp,
Talking like blessed angel-eating like a
| blasted tramp.
My wife, she liked the stranger, smiling on him
warm and sweet
| ct always f1atters women, when their guests
are on the eat),
And he limited that some ladies never lose
their early charms,
! And kissed her latest baby, and received 1t IN
his arms,
| Ny sons and daughters like MIN, for he had
progressive views,
And chewed the quid OF fancy, and gave down
the latest news;
And / couldn't help but like him, as i fear
! always must,
The gold of my own doctrines, in fellow
heap OF dust.
lie was spreading desolation through piece
of apple pie,
When he paused and looked upon us with
tear in his oH-eye,
And said, " Oh, happy family your blessings
make m sad;
You call to mind the dear ones that in happier
days l had;
4 wife as sweet as this one; babe as bright
and fair;
A little girl with ringlets, like that one over
there.
worshiped them too blindly my eyes with
love were dim
God took them to his own heart, and now l
worship Him;
But had not neglected the means within my
way,
Then they might still be living, and loving me
to-day.
One night there came tempest, the thun
der-peals were dire;
The clouds that tramped above us were shoot-
ing bolts of fire;
In my own house, /, lying, was thinking to my
blame,
How little had guarded against those shafts
OF flame,
When crash through root and ceiling the
deadly lightning cleft,
And killed my wife and children, and only
was lett.
= Since that dread time Pve wandered, ant
naught Tor life have cared,
Save to save others loved ones. whose live
have yet been spared;
Since then, it is my mission, where'er by SOW
row tossed,
= 10 sell to virtuous people good hghtnlng-rod
at cost.
4 With SD % and strong protection I'll cloth
your buildings DER.
twill cost you fifty dollars (perhaps trif1
more);
What little else it comes to at lowest pric
(You signing this agreement to pay so muc
per fooD."
signed it, while my family all approvin
,yood about;
And dropped tear upon it-(but didn't bic
it outO
That very day with wagons came some me
both great and small;
. They climbed upon my buildings Just as IL the
owned em all;
They hacked 'em, and they hewed 'em, muc
r against my loud desires;
# they trimmed 'em with their gewgaws, IN
they bound 'em down with wires;
They trimmed 'em and they wired em, an
they trimmed and wired 'em still,
And every precious minute kept a-running L
the bill.
> My soft-spoke guest a-seeking, did rave al
rush and run;
He was supping with nelghbor, just a tire
mile further on.
o DO YOU think" fiercely shouted, that
want mile O. wire
% 10 save each separate hay-cock out O heaven
10 consuming fret
!, !, DO you think to keep my buildin's safe fro
~ some uncertain harm,
I'm goin' to deed you over all the balance
my iarm?"
- Helooked up.oulte astonished with face
void OF guile,
And he pointed to the contract with ref
suring smile;
1t was the first occasion that he disagreed WI
me;
But he held me to that paper with o flrmn'
sad to see;
And Tor that thunderstorm, ere the ras
finally went,
paid two hundred dollars, If paid SIM
/, cent.
- And if any lightnin' -rodder wants dim
dialogue
With the restaurant department OF an ent
prising dog,
Let him set his mill a-runnin' just inside