Sharp County record., 1881-03-03
far 9dnHg 8eadfrs.
NAUGHTY BRLER-ROgE.

Said Brier-ROse's mother 70 the naughty
BUier-ROse:
70 What .CII become Of you. my child the Lord
Almighty knows.
You will not scrub the Kettles ana yoI VIII
not touch the broom;
You never sit minute still II spinning
wheel Or loom
Thus rrr1u bled in the morning, and Erum-
bled .ate at eve,
The rOOd-wife IS she BUSTED With pot, ana
-TaV. and sleVe.a
But Brtar-Rose, sac ghed, and she cooked
ler dainty head.
IS Why. I shall marry, mother dear, tEL ner-
uly she said.
o. You marry, saucy Brer-Rose! The man, ne
Is not found
To marry such q worthless Wench- these sew
en- leagues around.
But lriar-Rlse. she laughed and she trllled
..Paraa5- he'll come. my mother dear, from
eight leagues away.
The rond-vife with a .'humph" and sign
fOrs0Ok the battle.
And flung ler pots and pals ABOUT Win
much vindictlve rattle:
- D Lord what sin lid l commit n TOuIhfuI
days. and wild,
That Thou hast punished me IN age with such
q awayward clI.d:'
Up stole the girI on tiytOe. so that none her
step could hear.
And. laughing. pressed IN airy kiss behind
the -JOd-Wlt5's ear.
And she. Is e'er relentiug, signed: "Dl-
Heaven only knows
WhatevGr va h-eOme or yOu- my llu4nly
ErIer- r-80ssf'
The sun vas nigh and summer sounds we're
reemIng in the air;
Thecau6 Of scvrles. the cricket WnIr- and
swelling WO0d-n1tes rare
From field. and cOpse. and meadow; ana
through the open door
Sweet. fragrant waitfs OF lew-mOwn nay the
idle JreeZeS bore.
Then Brier-R0se rraw pensive. like a bird Of
thoughtful mIen.
Whose little Life has problems among the
branches green
She heard the river Drawing wnere the tide
was swift and strong,
She heard the summer singing us strange
aIluring song.
And out she skipped the meadows Ger and
gaZed into the sky;
Her heart o 'erDrImmed with gladneSs- she
scarce herself knew Why
and 10 a merry tune she 1ummed- On-
Heaven only knows
Whatever viii become Of the naughty Brler-
Rose"
Whene'er a thrifty matrOn this idle maid
esDied.
She shook her head in warning, and scarce
her wrath could hide;
For giris we're made for housewives Tor
sDinnIng-wleel and loom.
And not to drink the sunshine and yTl-d-doW-
er's sweet perfume.
And oft the maidens cried. when Brier-R Ose
went by,
81 You cannot knit a stocking, and you cannot
make pie.
But Brer-Rose, as was her won't she cooked
her curly head:
q But can sing a pretty song, full merr1ly
she said.
And oft the young lads shouted. when they
saw the maid at play:
"a 10. rO0d-f0r-nOthIng Brler-ROse, now do you
do tO-dayt"
Then she shook her tiny fist; TO her cheeks
the color few:
% However much you coax me- III HeUsr dance
with you"
Thus few the years light-winged over Brier-
Roses head,
Till she was twenty summers old and yet re-
mained unWed.
And all the parish wondered: The Lord
Almighty knows
WhateverwilI become of that naughty Brier-
ROse!
And while they wondered came the spring
adaucing o. 'er the nils;
Her breath was warmer than OF yOre, and all
the mountain rills.
With their tinkling, and their ripping, and
their rushing, 1lled the air,
And the misty sounds Of water fOrth-weIIlng
everywhere.
And in the valleys depth, like Iusty beast
Of prey,
The river leaped and roared aloud and tossed
its name Ot spray;
Then hushed again its voice TO sOtcly-plash-
ing Groom.
As dark it rolled beneath the sun and white
beneath the moon.
It was a merry sight TO see the lumber as it
wnirled
Adown the tawny eddies that hissed. and
seeUhed. ana 5wired
Now shooting through the rapids, and, with a
reeling swing,
Into the t0am-crests diving like an animated
thing.
But IN the narr0ws Of the rocks. where o 'er
a steep incline
The waters plunged. and wreathed in foam
the dark 5Oughs OF the pine.
The lads kept watch with shout and song,
and sent each struggling beam
A-spnning down the rapids. lest It should
-ock the stream.