The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-15
Old Robin.

not LO-U8y!
have let you have your way with the land.
With the meadows and the fallows, draining
swamps andfil'ing hollows;
And you're mighty deep, Dan Alvord! but the
sea itself has shadows,
And there ore things thar you don't under
stand.
You are not so green, of course, as to feed a
wornout horse,
Out OF pity or remorse. very long!
But as sure as am master Of a shed and bit
of pasture,
Not for all the wealth, ] warn you, of Wander.
bilt or Astor,
Will do old robin there such wrong.
He is old and lame, alas Don't disturb him
as you pass!
Let him lie Their on the grass, while he may
And enjoy the summer weather. free forever
49,. from his tether.
Sober veteran as you see him, we were young
and gay together:
1t was who rode him frst-ah, the day!
..,.., E.sa Il
l was just little chap, in first pantaloons and
cap, LIS
And left my mothers lap at the door;
And the reins hung loose and idle, as we let
him prance and side
For my father walked beside me with his hand
upon the bride:
ACAA1AuE7 COAt UOy VI i've, udTuly mOTc.
See him start and prick his ears! see how
knowingly he leers!
l believe he Overhears every word;
And once more, It may be, tancies that he car
ries me and Frances, @
While my mother from the 6oorwav follows
us with happy chances.
You may laugh, but-well, of course, it's al
Poor old Robin! does he know how I used to
cling and crow,
AS I rode him to and fro and around?
Every day as we grew older, he grew gentler,
Till, a hand upon the bride and a touch upon
his shoulder, -
I could vault into my seat at bound.
All, the nag youso disdain, with his scanty
tail and name.
And that ridge pole to shed..rain, called back
Then was taper:limbed and glossy-so superb
creature Was he!
And he arched his neck, so graceful, and he
tossed his tail, so saucy, -r3
Like proudly waving plume long and black!
He was light of hoof and fleet, was supple,
firm in seat,
Andno sort of thing with feet, anywhere
In the country, coul. come nigh us; scarce
the swallows could outhy us;
But the planet spun beneath us, and the sky
went whiZzing by us, '.1
In a hurricane we made of the air.
~, w
Then | rode away to the school in the morn
ings fresh and cool;
Till, one day, beside the pool where he drank,
Leaning on my handsome trotter, glancing up
across the water -.
To the Judges terraced orchard, there I saw
the Judges daughter.
In frox,, nofc, Lo,, H.
Looking down on horse and boy, smiling
down so sweet and coy,
That thrilled with bashful joy. when she
said ...5 = .
Voice as sweet as a canary's-" Would YOU
like to get some cherries?-
You are welcome as the birds are;-there are
nice ones on this terrace;
These are white-hearts in the tree ov erhead"
Was it Robin more than 7, that had pleased
her girlish eye
As she saw us prancing by? half, I fear!
OFT she ran, Tut not a great way: white. hearts
black-hearts, sweet-hearts straightway!
Boy and horse were soon familiar with the
hospitable gateway,
And happy fool was for year.
Lord forgive an only child! All the blessings
Had but helped to make me wild and per.
verse.
What is there in honest horses that should
lead to vicious courses?
Racing, betting, idling, tipping, wasted soon
my best resources;
small beginning led to more-and to worse.
Father? happy in his grave! Praying mothers
cannot save:-
Mine? a fatterer and slave to her son!
Often Mary urged and pleaded, and the good
Judge interceded,
Counseled, blamed, insisted, threatened: tears
and threats were all UNDECIDED,
And answered him in wrath; it was done!
Valnly Mary sobbed and chung; in fury out
I flung, z.--.. $500 =
To old Robins back sprung, and away!
NO repentance, no compassion; on plunged
in heaclong fashion.
In night of rain and tempest, with fierce
despairing passion 5ss-- Il
Through the blind and raving gusts, mad as
they. .
Bad to worse was still my game: my poor
mother, still the same -,
Tried to shield me, to reclaim-did her best
Creditors began to clamor; could only lie
and stamme"; IRA
All we had was pledged for payment, all was
sod beneath the hammer,
My old Robin there, along with the rest.
Laughing, jeering, Istood by, wi h devil in
my eye ~"
those who came TO buy, what was
done r-4 .s.. .-f ,.....
had then no power to alter; looked on and |
would not falter,
Till the last man had departed, leading Robin
by the halter; J&
Then flew into the loft for my gun.
would shoot him! no, said, I would kill |
myself instead
TO a lonely wood fled, on hill.
Hating Heaven and all its mercies for nv fol- |
lies and reYerses,
Then l plunged in self abasement, there |
borrowed in self-curses;
But the dying put off-as men will
As wandered back at night, something, far !
OFT caught my sight,
Dark against the western light, in the lane: |
Coming to the bars to meet me-some illusion |
sent to cheat me! |
No, twas Robin, my own Robin, dancing |
WhinnyiDg to greet me!
With small white billet sewed to his name.
The small missive unstrung-op old Robins
back hung,
there e. led and there chung! while read. |
IN hand | knew was Mary's-"One whose
Kindness never varies
Sends this gift: no name W - written. It
painted bunch of cherries,
IN dainty little note, smiled, instead