Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-24
SELLING THE FARM.
aY BETH DAY IL THE lNrEE-ocEAS.

Well, why don't you say it, husband? | know what
You want 10 say;
You want to talk about selling the farm for the
mortgage we cannot pay
l know that we cannot pay IL, have thought OF it
DER and DER:
For the wheat has failed on the corner lot where
wheat never fii ed 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.
| know it was best TO give it it was right that the
debts be paid,
The debts that our thougbtless Willie, in the hours
OF his weakness, made;
And VIII would lslve paid it fairly, you know it as
well as /,
Ii the ship had not gone down that night when no
other ship was nigh.
But, somehow, didn't quit hoping, and ever I've
tried to pray
(But know if our viii was alive on earth, he'd
surely been here to-day
thought that the merciful Father, would somehow,
care for the lad,
Because he irving to better the past, and be-
cause 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
knowing for sure he's dead.
oh Thomas, how leave it. the home We
have always known
We won it away from the forest, and made it so
much our own
you brought me here;
And no other place in the wide, wide world will ever
be half so dear
OF course, you remember it, Thomas-I need not
ask YOU know,
For this is the month, and this is the day-it was
twenty-siX years ago.
And don't you remember it. Thomas, the winter the
barn was made ?
How we we're 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 we had
paid for the farm.
And now to think we must leave it, when here was
hoping to die,
1t seems as if it was breaking my heart, but the
font Of my tears is dry.
There's man up there in the village that's wanting
to buy, you say.
Well Thomas, he'll have to have it. but why does he
come to-day?
But there, it is wrong to grieye you, for YOU have
enough to bear,
And in all OF our petty troubles you always have
borne your share;
I am but sorry helpmeet since have so childish
grown.
There there, go to the village let have it out
alone.
Poor Thomas, he's growing feeble, he steps weary
There is not much in his looks to-day like twenty
years ago.
But know that his heart is youthful, as it was
when first wed,
And his love is as strong as ever for me, and for
Willie our boy that's dead
Oh, W .lhe, my baby Willie, never shall see him
more;
never shall hear his footsteps, as he comes through
the open door.
Z" How are you, dear lite mother % were always
the words he'd say;
1t seems if would give the world tohear it again
to-day.
knew when my boy was coming, be it ever SO early
or late,
He was always a whistlng 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
the road from town;
And in maly night of sorrow, in the silence, early
and late,
Have held my breath at footstep, that seemed to
pause at the gate.
hope that he cannot see us, wherever his soul may
be;
1t would grieve him to know the trouble, that's
come to father and me-
Out there is the tree he planted, the day he was
twelve years old
The sunlight is ginting through it, and turning its
leaves to gold;
And often when was lonely, and no one near at
hand,
have talAed to it, hours together-as if it could
understand
And sometimes used to fancy, whenever spoke of
my boy,
1t waving its leaves together, like capping its
hands for joy.
1t may be the that will own it, that's coming to
buy to-day,
Will be chopping it down, or digging it up, and
burning it out Of the way.
And there the pansies yonder, and the roses he
helped to tend
Why, every bush the dear old place is as dear as
tried old friend
And nOH we must 90 and leave them-but there
they have come from town;
haven't had time to smooth my hair, or even to
change my gown.
then both quite plainly, although it is get
ting late.
And the Strangers a whistling "HOme, Sweet
Home" as he comes up from the gate.
III 20 into the kitchen now, for dOnt want to
look on his face.
What right has he to be whistling that, unless he
has bought the place.
Why, can that be Thomas coming ne usually steps
SO slow;
There's something come into his footstep like twen-
ty six years ago.
There's methng 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 tight?
And why don't you tell me quickly-must we 60
from the farm tonight?
What's that? :" You bring tidings, and tidings OF
wonderful joy
1t cannot be very joyous, unless it is news oil my
boy.
Oh, Thomas You cannot mean itf Here, let me
look in your face.
Now, tell again it is Willie that's wanting 10 buy
the place.