The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-05-29
TIE LIGHTNLNG-ROD DISPENS Err.
A FARM BALLAD.

TIE LlGHTNLNG-ROD DISPENSER.
FARM BALLAD.
If the weary world is willing. I've little word 4,
OF a lightning-rod dispenser that dropped ,,,e,,
With a poem in his motions. with .,sx,, n
hlS mlen, ~ -
With hands as white as lilies. az 4 = a.a. .rcom-
No wrinkle had his vest ,e.,.. md his ,;ren
glistened white. ' ~ ~ ~
And his new:c3nstru" .eca neck-tie was an inter-
estIng sight,
Which almost .,,h his razor had made rcd that
And the NJ .~>umstructcd ncck-tie had composed
Ere h. .~asmans krot,
And HE rip-saw tongue a-buzzin' for to gouge a
cash in me.
But couldn't help but like him-as 1 always
think must
The gold Of my own doctrines in a fellow-heap of
When l tired my own opinions at this person
round by round.
They drew an answering volley. of very similar
touched him on religion. and the hopes my
heart had known;
he SAID he d had experiences quite similar of his
told him of the doubtin's that made dark my
He had laid S ara al till morning with that same
told him of the rough Path hoped to heaven
to go;
He was ON, on that very ladder. only Just round
told him of my visions of the sinfulness of
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 arg ed him SO able. he was very soon con-
WINGED.
And twas getting toward the middle of hungry
summer day:
There was dinner on the table. and asked him
would he stay?
And he sat him down among u.s. everlasting trim
ana neat,
And asked a Short crisp blessing almost good
enough to eat;
Then be tired up on the mercies of our Great
Eternal Friend
And gave the Lord Almighty a good tirst-class
recommend;
And for full an hour we listened to the sugar.
coated scamp,
Talking like blessed augel-eating like a.
blasted tramp.
My wife. she liked the stranger, smiling on him
warm ana sweet:
ut always tiatters women when their guests are
on the eat.l
And he limited that some ladies never lose their
early charms
And kissed her lptest baby, and received it in
his arms,
My sons and daughters liked him, for he had
progressive views,
And chewed the quid of fancy and gave down
And couldn' help but like him; as fear al
Ways must
The gold of my own doctrines, in a felow-heap
of dust.
He was spreading desoiation through piece of
When he paused and looked upon us with a tear
And said. '.Oh. happy family.-your blessings
make me sad;
You call to mind the dear ones that in happier
days had;
A wife as sweet as this one; babe as bri ght and
n little girl with ringlets. like that one over
there.
wors;hiped them teo blindly my eyes with
love were dim,
God took them to His own heart, and now wor-
ship Him.
But had / not neglected the means within nv
wSy.
rhen they might still be living, and loving me
to-day.
One night there came tempest; the thunder
peals were dire;
The clouds that trampsd above us were shooting
In my, own house, l. lying, was thinking, to my
blame.
How little had guarded against those shafts of
tame.
When. crash through the roof and ceiling the
deadly lightning cleft,
And killeo my wife and children, and only was
lctt.
Since that dread time I've wandered. and
nought for life have cared.
Siseto save others loved ones, whose lives have
Yet been spared:
Since then it is my mission, where'er by sorrow
10 sell to virteous people good Gghtning-rcds-
at cost.
With sure and strong protection I'll clothe your
buildings Ger.
Twill cost you fifty dollars perhaps a trife
more;l
What little else it comes to. at lowest price Iii
CYou signing this agreement to pay SO much per
foot.o
signed it; while my family all approving stood
about
And di,opped tear upon it-(but it didn blot
That very day with wagons came some men,
-, both great and small;
owned EN- all;
They hacked EN-, and they hewed 'em, much
against my loud desires;
ihey trimmed EN- up with gewgaws. and they
bound EN- down with wires;
1hey trlnm EN- and they wired EN-, and they
trimmed and wired EN- still,
ANA every precious minute kept a-running up
she bill.
My soft-sspoke guest a-seeking, did l rave and
de was ,supping with neighbor, Just three
mile further on.
- DO YOU think ! fercely shouted. that
To save each separate hay-cock out O. heavens
cousumin fire:
Do you think TO keep my buildin' s safe from
serae uncertain harm,
I'm gsis' to deed You over all the balance of my
farm:" '
He looked up quite astonished, with a face de-
void of guile,
And he pointed to the contract. with a reassur-
ing smile:
1t was the first occasion that he disagreed with
me;
But he held me to that paper, with a frmness
sad TO see:
And for that thunderstorm, ere the rascal finally
went,
l al two hundred dollars, if paid a single
cent.
And It any hghtnin -rodder wants dinner-dia-
logue,
With the restaurant departments of an enter
prising dog,
Let him set his mill a-runnin' inst inside nv
outside gate,
And Iii bel two hundred dollars that he won't