Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1880-02-05

The following poem, after the style of Will Carle-
toms farm ballads is of the best pieces of the kind
that has yet been written:
Well why don't you say it. husband? know what
You to talk about selling the farm, for the mort
gage we cannot pay.
kno,O that cannot pay it, have thought of it DER
For the wheat has failed on the corner lot where wheat
never failed before.
And everything here's gone backward since Willie
went of to sea,
To pay the mortgage and save the farm, the home
stead, for you and me.
kno,C it best to give it; it was right that the
debts be paid,
The debts that thoughtles Willie in the hours of
his weakness, made
And Will would have paid it fairly, you know it as
well as ],
other ship nigh.
But somehow, didn't quit hoping, and ever I've tried
to pray
But know if Will was alive on earth, he'd surely
been here to-1aY.)
thought that the merciful Father, would somehow
Because he trying to better the past and because
he all we had
But now am well nigh hopeless, since hope for my
boy has fled,
For selling the farm means giving him up, and know
ing for sure he's dead.
Oh! Thomas, how can we leave 1t, the home we haYe
always known?
Wewon it away from the Forest and made it so much
our own.
First day kept house together the day you
brought me here;
And other place in the wide, wide world will ever
be half SO dear.
OF course, you remember 1t, Thomas-1 need not ask
you, know,
For this is the month"; and this is the day-t was
tWenty-siX years ago.
And don't you remember it, Thomas, the winter the
barn was made?
How we were so proud and happy, for all our debts
paid
The crops were good that summer, and everything
worked like charm,
And we felt so rich and contented to think had
paid for the Iarm.
And now to think we must leave it, when here was
hoping to die,
1t it breaking my heart but the fount
OF my tears is dry.
There's man up there the village that's wanting to
Well Thomas. he'll have to have it, but why does he
come to-day?
But there, it is wrong to grieve you, for you have
And i'll all Of petty troubles you always have borne
your share;
am but sorry helpmeet since 1 have SO childish
There, there, go to the village, let have it out
alone.
Poor Thomas he's growing feeble, he steps weary
and Slow
There is not much in his looks to-day like twentysX
But know that his heart is youthful as it was when
first wed,
And his love strong for me- and for Willie
our boy that's dead.
Oh. Willie, my baby willie, I never shall see him
never shall hear his footsteps, he through
the open door.
How are you. dear little mother ?" were always the
1t seemo as if would give the world to hear again
to-day.
knew when my boy was coming, be it ever early
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 whistle like his out there the
road from town;
And in many night of sorrow, in the eilence early
and late.
Have held my breath at footstep. that seemed to
hope that he cannot zee us, wherever his soul may
be;
1t would greve him to know the trouble, that's
Out there the he planted the day he was twelve
The sunlight is glinting through it, and turning its
leaves to gold;
And often when was lonely, and no one near at
hand,
have talked to it. hours togother-as if it could
derstand-
And sometimes used to fancy, whenever spoke of
1t was waving its leayes together like clapping its
hands for JOY.
1t be the man that Will own II, that's coming TO
buy to-day,
Will be chopping it down, digging it up, and burn
ing it out of the way.
And there the pansies yonder, and the roses he
why, every bush on the dear old place is dear
tried old friend.
And now we must go and leave them-Dut there they
have come from town;
haven't had time to smooth my hair, or even to |
change my gown.
can them both plainly, although it is getting
late.
And the strangers whistling "Home Sweet Home"
as he comes up from the gate.
Ill go out into the kitchen now, for don't want to
look on his face.
What right has he to be whistng that unless he has
bought the place.
Why can that be Thomas coming he usually steps |
so slow;
There's something come into his footstep like twenty |
six years ago.
There's something that sounds like gadness, and the