Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1879-01-23
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RIP IN RHYME.

Near the village, In n cottage small,
Lived Rip Van Wrinkle, known to oil
AZ harmless, drinking, shiftless lont
VINO never would work, but roamed about,
Always ready with lest and song,
ldllng, tipping h the day long.
shame on You, Ripl" cried the scodng yrows,
And Old men muttered and knit their brows.
Not no with the boys, for they would shout
And follow their good hero Rip about
Early or late-it was all the sanie,
They gave lin place In every game.
At ball he was ready to throw or catch,
At marbles he was the harilctt TO match,
Aud many an urchins face grew bright
When Rip took hold Of his twne and kite.
Aud 80 he irittercd tho time away
Good natlrcd enough" they all would soy,
But the village parsOn heaved sigh,
As Rip, In his cups went rucling by.
But the stream OF his life ran sometimes rough,
And his good "Vrow gave him many cuff,
For she never could be a gentle dame,
But Rip WAS tprer and much to blame.
But little did Rip Van Wnkle care
For wife or BONE III he seldom was there
But tried in his cup his cares to drown;
Ills scoldinB wife with her threatening frOwn,
At his cottage door he was sure to see
"All! this, said Rip, ''is M place for me-"
40 down to the tavern TO drink his rum,
And waste his time with some red-nosed chum,
lie was sure to 20, for he knew that there
lie would ind glass and vacant chair,
And Jolly fellows, who liked his fun,
And TIE tales he told Of his dog and gun.
Yet his was still but ,orry life,
FOr4gi AZ lie wls he loytd his wife;
Ans 'e would tipplr both day aud night,
And'H would sc0ld him with nil per might.
Thu ZIP Van Winkle had many grief
And Ep IN the mountains sought relief,
Aud once he had climbed to dizzy height,
when the sun went down and the shades OF night
Cam mp from the vale, and the pine trees tall,
And the old gray rocks, and the waterfall
Grew dusky and dim, and faded away,
Till night, like pail, on the mountain lay.
Full many mile had he strayod that day,
And up IN the mountains had lost his way,
And there he must stay through the gloomy night,
Ana shiYer uid wait for the morning light.
Ho thought of the stories strange and old,
Which Sray.benrds down In the village told;
"And what" said he, "if the tale. were true?
have heard so oft of phantom crew,
Who, n y the Catskills all night long,
FrOlic reyel with wine and song"
! lust thpir voice from a neighbOring hill
Cried, "Rp Van Wiukle," and all was still.
Then he looked above and ho looked below
And saw not a thing but lonely crow.
no. Rip Van WinklCln the voice still cried,
And Schneider skulked TO his masters side.
lust then from thlcket a man came out,
His legs We're short and his body stout,
ne looked like Dutchman In days Of yorc,
with buttons behind aud buttons before;
Aud he held a keg with an iron grip,
AMI lie beckOnel for help to the gazing Rip
ltp had his fears. but at last complied.
AUD bore the kog up the mountain side.
And now and then when thunder peal
Male the mountain trcmhe, Rip would steal
look at his guide but never word
From the lips of the queer old man was heard
Up, up they clgmberetl, until at last
Tho stranger halted. Rip quickly cas-.
glance around, and a. strange crew
\, ever any mortal man did view,
We're playing at niuC-pins; at every ball
Twas fun 10 sro how the ping would fall:
AllI they rolled aud rolled, none speaking WORT,
And this was the thunder Rip had heard.
Ibcir hats were odd with sugar-loaf crown,
helreyts were slnaii, uud GNf boards hung down.
Their higli-hccel shoes all had peaked toes,
Md their legs were covered with blood-rcd hose;
Their noses wore long like porkcrs snuut,
and they nodded and wiuked as they moved about.
lhey tapped the key. aud the liquor flowed,
md up to the 1r1m of each flagOn glOwcd;
And queer old man made sign to Rip,
As much as TO say "Will YOU take nip?"
Nor did lie linger or stop 10 think,
For he WAS Thirsty and wanted drink.
III risk it," thought he. at can't be no sin,
\nd 1t smells like the best Of Holland Gin"
80 he tipped his cup to the grim old chap,
Nud drained 1t dry, then for a quiet nap
lie stretched himself on the inUssy ground,
md soon was wrapped in sleep profound.
NJ last he awOkc; it was q sunny morn,
And the strange old man Of the glen was gone:
ic saw the young birds tluttrr and hop,
7 me an caIle Mht'!el round tie mountain top;
Then he rubbed his eyes for another sight
surely" said he, 81 have slept NIL night"
lo thonSht OF the ilagon and nine-pn game,
Oh! what shall Say TO my fiery dance"
ie fAintly ihlterCi; know that she
Has fearful lecture in store for NO."
le took up his gun, and strange to say,
lhv wood had rotted and worn away.
ic raised to his feet, aud his joints were pOrc.
'lli he, 81 niu-t 60 To my home once nore."
hen, with trembling steps, he wandered down;
Ima5cd he entered hin native town.
he people looked with wondering stare
'uf l.ip, alas! was stranger there;
ie tot!cred up To his cottage door,
iUi ms wife was dead aud could sc5ld no more;
md down at the tavern he sought in vain
'or chulns he now could never meet Eggin.
10 looked, as he passed, at group OF girls,
'or the laughing eye and taNen curls
VI the child he loved, Gs hc loved his life.
'hc Wls woman grown, through litr's hard strife,
md when they met and her hand he took,
Me blashed, and gave HIM puz2ng look
'ut she knew her father and Kissed his brow,
VI covered with marks and wrinkles now
'or Rip Van Winklewis old and gray,
'Or twenty summers had passed away
,or twenty years uf SHOW and frost
in mad In his mountain slumbers lost;
ct his love for stories was still the same,
nd he of'an told Of the nne-pin game
he revolution had come aud passed,
M young America gathered about,
'eccved his tales with many doubt.
while he hObbed about the town,
hen worn aud weary at last laid down.
'Or his locks were white md his limbs were sore,
Ihd lup Van Winklt will wake 10 more.