The Osceola times., 1881-05-28
DARBY AND HIS JOAN.


he following old poem is always new. IL
thor and exact ace hrc unknown
When Darby saw the setting sun.
lie swung his sCythe and home he run,
sat down, drank of his pint, and said
My work !, done IN go To he'd
My work Is DONE" rat0ried Joan
my work is dpue your constant tone.
But haplcss woman necr can say
Ny work is done, ill Judgment Day"
Here Darby hemd and racked his head
10 answer what IN, Joan had said
But all in vain, her clack kept on
Yes, wOman's work is never done.
You men can sleep all night. but we
Must toll "Whos fault is that2' guoth he.
4 know your meaning, Joan replied,
But sir, my tongue shall ne'Cr he tied.
! win 60 ON and let you know
What work We women have t0 do.
First. ia the morning, though We el
As sick a. drunkaris when they reel
les, feel such pain through bach and head
A would contlne you men 10 bed.
we WELD he brush and ply the broom,
We air the beds and right the room;
The COW must next be milked and then
We get the breakfast for the men.
And briskly air, the children rise.
These must be dressed and dosed with rue
And fed, and all because Of you
we must'--here Darby rose and scratched
his head.
And fast retreated for the bed.
And grimbing this as on he run:
"Zound>. woman's clack is never done"
Al early dawn, ere Phubus rose,
Iaan al hart al. nf
said Darby: Thus I'll end the strife.
BE you the man and the wife.
Take you the scythe and NOW. while |
win all your boasted cares supply"
Content, quoth Joan. give me my stint
This Darby did and out she went.
old DaEby resp and seized the broom,
Md whlrled the dirt around the room;
Then, having done he scarce knew how,
He hied 10 milk the brindle COW.
The brindle cow did whisk her tail
In Darby, eyes. and kick the pail
The clown perplexed with grief and pain,
SwOrc he'd ne'er try to milk again.
Then, turning round in sad amaze
lie saw his cottage In a blaze,
For as he chnnced TO brush the room
ia careless haste, he fired the broom.
the lirc at length scbdned, lac sworc
The broom aud he should meet no more.
Pressed by misfortune and perplexed.
DARBY prepared for break fast next
Eut what to get he scarcely knew,
he bread was spent, the butter too
with hands bedaubei In paste aud four
Old Darry labored full an hour,
But. iuckieSs wight, lie could NOT make
The bread take form Of loaf or cake.
severy door wide open stood
IN pushed the sow In quest of food,
Aud. stumbling onward, with her snout
O'cr set the churn-the cream ran out.
A. Darby turned the SOW to beat
The slippery cream betrayed his feet.
He caught he bread trough In his fall
Ana down came Darby, trough and all
The children, Weakened by the clattcr,
-tHrt up and cry. Law, " hats the natter
Old JoW Ter barkcd and Tabby meowed.
And hApless Darby bawled aloud
Return my Joan, a. heretofore,
IN play the housewives part no more,
since now my sad experience. taught,
compared with thine my work is naught.
Henccforth as business calls I'll take,
content, the scythe, the plow, the rnke,
And neYcrmore transgress the line
our fates have marked whilst thou art mine.
Then, Joan, return as heretofore,
ia yex thine honest soul no more;
let each his proper task attend
Forgive the past and strive to mend