The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-22
WEEDS.

THAT cabin rude of rotting logs, whose door
its hinges lacks;
Before it stand two starveling ours, brush
neap and an AK;
Behind 1t, ranged in crooked rows ia maize nj
varying height;
One side, some stunted cabbages, that sore
the slug worms smite;
broken worm-fence round the place
which much repairing needs
Hhere IN the corners densely grow the rank
est nOXlOuS weeds
That has been William Elkin's home, if home
should be the name
vi any place where folk reside with idleness
and shame.
And yonder house across the road low. rooted
and spreading wide,
well kept lawn before the door, its owners
honest pride;
The wood shed filed, the stables trim, the
fowls in yard inclosed;
The kennel snug where Bose for years alter
nate watched and dozed;
The long, straight rows of deep green maize
the garden filled with all
Inc toothSome plants in thrifty growth, from
early spring to TALL;
The fruit trees in the angles of the NEEDLESS
zigzag fence
Budd Martin closes there life of well earned
competence
quite remember when they came - was of
'Twas nothing but wilderness when these
two settled here.
Each took q quarter section as a homestead
land was free;
Each built a cabin, and attacked with vigor
rock and tree;
But Elkin coming first secured the choicer
piece of land,
A gentle sloping knoll that had brook on
either hand;
While Martin got patch of ground more
broken and less rich,
With fourteen acres lying low, that he must
drain or ditch
Both labored long and labored well and
broke and cleared the ground;
And field on field was put in filth, and all
looked well around.
The virgin soil'gave heavy crops, sweet grass
and golden grain
Filled hay NOV high and corn-crib full, while
cfeaked the loaded vain:
And all the settlers far and near in passing
by the place.
Agreed that to a prosperous goal the two
made even pace;
And all was well till Barton came, and he, his
bread to win
Where crossed the roads, mile away, opened
the Farmers Inn.
A pleasant man was Barton, and he kept
pleasant place,
And bore II look of welcome in his round and
jolly face;
And Elkin, twice a week or so, to taste "the
fine old rye"
Would saunter out to Barton's there; but
Martin he was shy
His farm engaged his mind too much" che
mad no time to spare"
But Elkiu only laughed at that, and Knocked
And mimicKed all he said so well that Barton
and the rest
Declared of all dron fellows round, Bill Elkin
was the best.
They bore all this to Martin. "Wen," he slid
che means no harm;
But every weed grown in man, brings thou
sands to his farm.
I've many here to trouble me- clean cultures
hard to win;
But, us with those that spring from earth,
try to pillow them in.
Bad habits are rank growing weeds; vet if
you persevere
And pull them up, or plow them in, the ground
will soon be clear;
But he who waits, and lets them grow and
bloom and come to seed,
VIII have to harvest in the end a fearful crop
indeed"
And so the weeds in Ellxin's life, and weeds
ON Elkfn's farm,
Grew both apace, and in the end brought
farm and man to harm.
While Martin throve, and found his ground its
yearly crop increase,
And won his way to competence, and happi-
ness, and peace,
Poor Elkin'S farm and Elkin's self went down
in every way,
Until the mortgage which he gave has been
fOreclosed to day,
And all his wretched family, homeless and
scant of friends,
Are pensioners on Martin noW-and so nv
story ends.
-Th0S. Dunn English, in N. Y Ledger.