The Cecil Whig., 1881-05-21


/ She hadn't much to strike with, anyhow:l
/ And when went to milk the cows and found
They d wandered from therusual feeding ground
! And mayhe'd left few long miles behind EN-,
Which must copy. if meant 10 md EN-.
/ Flash quick the stay-rhans OF my temper broke,
And in a trcc these hot words l had spoke:
I You ought to've kept the animals in view.
/ And drove en- in: you'd nothing else to DO.
/ The hciG of all our life must fall
You lust lie round, and let me d" il all.
| That >pecch-it hadn't been gonea half a minut
Before l saw the cold black poison in it:
/ And I'd have given all had, and more,
To'vc only safely got it back indoor.
( I'm now what most folks ''wel-to-d" would call
/ feel to-day if I'd give ii all,
/ Provided through fifty years might reach
/ And kill and bury that halfminutc speech.
BOYS tiyim" kites haul in their white-wiugcd birds
( You can't do that way when you're flying words.
! Things that we think. may sometimes fan hacl
dead.
! But God himself cant kill them when thcy'r
said.
! She handed back words, as | could hear:
| She didn't irown: she didn't shed a tear:
! Half proud. half crushed, shc stood and looke'
me DER,
| Like some one she had never seen before
! But such a sudden anguish-iit surprise
never viewed before in human eyes.
| 1've seen it oft enough since in dream:
/ 1t sometimes wakes me like midnight scream.) }
| That night. while theoretically sleeping.
| half heard and half felt that she was weeping,
/ And my heart then projected design
| To softly draw her face up close to mine,
| And beg of her forgiveness to bcStOw
| For saving what We both knew wasn't so.
| I've got enough of this worlds goods to do Inc,
And make my nephews painfully civil to me:
| Id rive it all to know she only knew
! How near came to what was square and true.
| But, somehow. every single time Id try.
Pride would appear ana kind q catch my eye,
| And hold me on the edge of my advance.
| With the cold steel of one sly Scornul glance.
| Next morning. when. st0ne-fa faced, but heavy
hearted,
With dinner pail and >larpencd axe l started
! Away for my days work-shc watched the door.
| And followed me half way to it or more
| And was Just a-turning round at this.
| And asking for my usual gOod-by kiss;
| But on her lip saw proudiSh curve,
| And in her eye shadow of reserve:
| And she had ShOwn-pcrhaps half una awarcs-
Some little independent breakfast airs
| And so the usual parting didn't occur,
Although her eyes invited me to her:
| Or rather half invited me. for she
| Didn't advertise to furnish kisses free:
! You always had-that is had-to pay
| Full market price and 90 more'n half the way.
| So with short Good-hy.' shu; the door,
| And lett her as never had before.
Now when a man works with his muscle snartly
! 1t makes him up into machinery. partly:
| And any trouble he may have on hand
| Gets deadencd like. and easier to stand.
| And though the memory of last nights mistake
| Bothered me with a dull and heavy ache
/ all the forenoon ~avc my strength full rein.
| And made the wounded trees bear half the pain.
| But when at noon my lunch came TO eat.
Put up by her SO delicately neat
! Choicer somewhat. than Yesterday had been,
! And some fresh. sweet-eyed panse> shc'd put i'll
Tender and pleasant thoughts, l knew the,
meant
| 1t seemed as if her kiss with me she'd Gent:
! Then became more her humble lover
And saia. Tonight I'll ark forgiveness 6l her. "
| went home over-carly IN that eve.
! Having contrivcd to make myself believe.
| BY various signs l kind o knew and guessed.
! \ thunder storm coming from the west
rris strange. when sly reason fills the heart.
/ How many honest ones will take it, part
! A dozen first class reasons said twas right
! That -hould strike home early On that night
! Half out of breath, the cabin door swung
| With tender heart words trembling on my tongue
But all within looked desolate and bare
Ny house had lost its sou-shc not there.
| A pencilcd note on the table spread,
| And these arc something like the words it said
The cows have Strayed away again. fear:
l watched them pretty close; don't scold me. dear
And where they are, think nearly know
l heard the bell not very long ago.
I've hunted for them all the afternoon:
I'll try once more-I think I'll find them soon
| Dear. il II burden have been TO You.
And haven't helped You as ought to do.
Let old time memories my forgiveness plead:
| I've tried To io my best have, indeed.
Darling piece out with love the strength lack,
And nave kind words for ne when get back.
Scarce did give this letter sight and tongue
Sume swift-hlown rain-drops To the window c!ung
| And from the clouds u rough. deep "rowl pr,
| cccdcd
| Mvthundcr storm had come. now twasnt needed
I rushed outdoor. The air was stained with black
| Night had come early, on TIE storm clouds back
| And everything kept dimnny to the sight
| Save when the clouds threw their electric light;
| When, for Il flash. so clean-cut was the view,
| I'd think saw her-knowiug twas not true,
| :, .
iH'oa' my '''1' 'o
quay
"a II INV 'e'''4 '. nav Tvs, ,'.,
| '''t'',s f""ee '''o va
III '''e ooi" citii'' vi ''s v'"""''''ue
Anu S"c' ""'ie "as sA,'''i''' VI '''''' ""i."'
was so'heN mere III III. ''"l'nes Vi 'i's sun"
sohe "ho wien X nus io''l'' 'ef 1T ei 'es
Had always III" her "h''' 'aee ol MY 're"s''
W. ,o,, ,,,,., hod r,ur.I uo,r, tbo,i,,
M, cronoh.,1 ord ,yhimu.ri,,.. !, :, corner law
-, ,,t,,, ~, .o,i,r IN ,,n r,u
| -, ,,,,,,Io =, :, .,., ,1
Track her, old boy " shouted and he whincd
Matched eyes with me. as if to read my mind,
| | followed him, "a faithful as could.
No pleasure trip was that. through flood an
flame:
We raced with death: We hunted noble game
| All night we dragged the woods without avail:
The ground got drenchc,l--we could not keep tn
| trail
| Three times again my cabin home found,
| Halr hoping She might be there safe and sound
But each time twas an unavaing care;
When. climbing the wet trees. next morning
sun
Laughed at the ruin that the night had done.
| Bleeding and drenched by toll and sorrow bent.
Back to what used to be my home 1 went.
But as | neared our little clearing ground
| Listen Il heard the COW bells tinkling sound