Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-17
SELLING THE FARM.
BY BETH DAY.

[The following poem, after the style of Will
Cartoons farm ballads is one of the best
pieces of the kind that has yet been written
Ed. l. o.
Well, why don't you say it, husband know what
you want to say;
You want to talk about selling the farm. for the
mortgage We cannot pay.
k''o,c that we cannot pay it, have thought of it
For the wheat has failed on the corner lot, where
wheat never failed before.
And everything here's gone backward since Willie
To pay the mortgage and save the farm. the home
Iknor it was best to give it; it was right that the
The debts that our thoughtless Willie. in the hours
And viii would have paid it fairly you know it as
If the chip had not gone down that night when no
other ship was nigh.
But. somehow, didn't quit hoping. and ever I've
(But know ii. our Will was alive on earth, he'd
thought that the merciffni Father. would some
how, care for the lad,
cause he was ali we had. f"''' "-'" W.
But now am well righ hopeless since hope for my
For selling the farm means giving him up, and
knowing for sure he's dead.
Oh! Thomas, how cgn we leaveit, the home have
We won it away from the forest, and made it so
First day we kept house together was the day that
you brought me here;
And other place in the wide, wide world will ever
Of course, you remember it, Thomas-I need not
For this is the MONTH and this the day-it was TWEEN
ty- six years ago.
And don't You remember it, Thomas, the winter
How we were 50 proud and happy, for all our debts
The crops were good that summer. and everything
worked like charm,
And we felt so rich and contented to think we had
And now to think we must leave it. when here was
1t seems as if it was breaking my heart, but the
II, 10 fount Of my tears is dry Try
Well Thomas, he'll have to have it. but why does he
But there. it is wrong to grieve you. for you have
am but sorry helpmeet since have SO childish
There there go to the village, let have it out
alone
Poor Thomas he's growing feeble. he steps so weary
There is not much in his looks day like twenty
But know that his heart is youthful. as it was
And his love is as strong as ever for me, and for
Oh we my 1 baby sD %iis afa lever shall see him
I never shall hear his footsteps, as he comes
''How are you, dear little mother?" were Always
1t seems as if Would give the world to hear again
to-day.
knew when my boy was coming. be it ever SO
He was always whistling Home, Sweet Home, "
as he opened the garden gate.
And many and many moment, since the night
that the ship went down,
Have started up at whistle like his, out there on
And in manga night of sorrow, in the silence,
Have / held my breath at a footstep, that seemed
to pause at the gate.
hope that he cannot see us, wherever his soul
1t would grieve him to know the trouble that's
Out there is the tree he planted, the day he was
| twelve years old;
And often when was lonely. and no one near al
have talked to it, hours together-as if it could
understand
It was waving its leaves together. like clappug its
1t may be the man that will own it, that's coming to
burning It out of the way. Juggling II up anu
And there are the pansies yonder. and the he
Why, every bush the dear old place is as dear as
they lave come from town; '-'-''
l haven't had time to smooth my hair, or even to
can see them both quite plainly, although it is
Home" as he comes up from the gate
Ill so out into the kitchen now. for don't want to
|
What right has he to be whitng that unless he has
bought the place.
Why, can that he Thomas coming? he usually steps
20 slow
There's something come into his footstep like TWEEN
ty-slX years ago.
There's something that sounds like gladness and
the man that he used to be
Before our Willie went out from home to die on the
stormy sea.
What. Thomas! Why are you smiling. and holding
my hands so tights
And why don't you tell me quickIy-must we &c
from the farm to- night?
What's that? You bring me tidings, and tidings
of wonderful joy"
1t cannot be very Joyous, unless it is news Of my
Oh, Thomas! You cannot mean 1t? Hero, let me
look in your face.
Now, tell me again it is Willie that's wanting to buy
the place -[Ciicago Inter- Ocean.