The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-02-05
sELLING rHE Farm.
BY BETH DAY.

(The following poem, after the style of win Carle-
toms farm ballads is one Of the best pieces of the
kind that has yet been written. ED. L o.l
Well, why don't you say it, husbandf know what
You want to talk about selling the farm, for the
mortgage we cannot pay
know that We cannot pay 1t, have thought Of it
For the wheat has failed on the corner lot, where
wheat never failed before.
And everything here's gone backward kince Willie
went OF to the sea,
To pay the mortgage and save the farm, the home
stead Of ysg 10d %s It, it wa. rich, that tn.
The debts shst our ihOaghtlosa wille nlhe hours of
And win would have paid it fairly, you know it as
1.-THE ship had not gone down that night when no
But, somehow, didn'tqIit hoping, and ever I've
(But 1 know Il our wfll was alive on earth, he'd
surely been here today. &
thought that the merciful Father, would somehow,
Because be was tryingto better the past, and be-
cause be was all we had. ~
But now I am well nigh hopeless, since hope for my
For selling the farm means giving him up, and know
lug for sure he's dead
We won il away from the forest, and made it SO
First day re I kept house together was the day you
And no s otSsr place in the 1ide wide world win ever
OF cousse yoa rsmember it, Thomas-I need not ask
For this is he month, and this is the day-it was
And don't you remember II, Thomas, the winter the
barn was mnde7
How we wers . proud and happy, for all our debts
The crops were good that summer, and everything,
worked Ike charm,
And we ltsQFicb and oOntented to think we had
And now to think we must leave II, when here was
hoping to die, a.,
There's man up there in the village that's wanting
Well, Thoniis hen have to have it, but Why does
But there, L 5 wrong 10 grieve you, for you have
And in al - psty trouble. you Away, have borne
I am but sorry helpmeet since have 50 childish
There there to the village let me have it out
Poor Thomas he's growing feeble he steps 50 weary
There is not much in his looks to-day like twenty
But know that Es heart youthful as IT was when
we Eere wed, 55ss
lie, our boy that's dead.
Oh, Willie, my baby Willie, I never shall see him
never shah here his footsteps, he through
How s are You, dear little rnotheri'' were always
1t seems as il would give the world to hear it again
to-day.
knew when my boy was coming, be # ever 50 early
He was always whistling Home, Sweet Home"
as he opened the garden gate.
And many and many 2 moment, since the night that
Have started up at whistle like his out there on
the road from town;
And in many night of sorrow, in the silence, early
and late, "a -
Have held my breath at foOtstep, that seemed to
pause at the gate.
hope that he cannot see us wherever his soul may
1t would grieve him to know the trouble that's come
Out there is the tree he planted, the day he was
The sunlight Is giinting through it, and turning its
And often when I was lonely, and no one near at
hand,
And sometimes 1 used to fancy, whenever Ispoke of
1t was waving its leaves together, like cappng its
1t may be the that win it, that's coming to
VIII be choppng It down, or digging 1T up, and burn
ing It out Of the way.
And there are tia pansies yonder and the roses he
Why, every bush on the dear old place as dear as
tried old friend.
Ana now we must go anu leave LueLu- OUT Ln6Iol
they have come from town;
1 haven't had time to smooth my hair, or even to
change my gown. a
can them both quite plainly, although it is get
ting late. =.
And the strangers . vhistfng Nome, Sweet
Home" rs he comes up trom the gate.
I'll go out into the kitchen now, for don't want to
look on his face.
What right has he TO be whsting that unless he has
bought the place. f9 1tt
Why, can that be Thomas ooningf he usually steps
so slow. - -eas-
There's something come into his footstep like twenty
SIX Yeas aeo-------
There's something that sounds Ike gladness and the
man that he used to be
Before Willie went out from home to die on the
stormy sea. - - = 49,
What, Thomasl Why are you smiling, and holding
your hands 81 tight7 :.
And why don't you tell me quickly-must we go
from the farm tonight
What's thati F. You bring me tidings, and tidings
of wonderful joyf"
1t cannot be very joyous unless 1t is news from my
boy.
oh, Themasi You cannot mean 1t? Hero, let me
look in your face. -z45=- .kaY
Now, tell igain 1t is Willie that's wanting to buy
the place. stl l'
.gtls3.s -CAisa9o Zntsr-0 Ocean.