Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-01-05
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1881.


This is her story as once told to me
BY him who still loved her, as all men might sec
Darius, her husband, his age seventy years,
man of few Words but for her many tears.
Darius and Mercy were born in Vermont;
Both children were christened at baptismal font
In the very same place, on the very same day
(Not much acquainted just then, daresay.l
The minister sprinkled the babies, and said,
who knows but this couple some time may be wed,
And be the parson to join them together,
For veal or for woe, through all sorts of weather
Well, they acere married, and happier folk
Never put both their heads in the same loving yoke.
They were poor, they worked hard but nothing
The patience OF Mercy or cloud her bright eye
She was clothed with Content as beautiful robe;
She had griefswho has MOI on this changeabe
globe ?
But at such times she seemed like the sister of job
She was patient with dogmas, where light never
She was patient with people who trod on her lawns;
She patient with folks who said blue skies were
And dentists and oxen that pulled the wrong way;
She patient with phrases no husband should
utter.
She patient with cream that declined TO be but
She was patient with buyers with nothing to pay,
She patient with takers who had nothing to say:
She was patient with miers whose trade was to
And grocers who counted out ten to the dozen;
She was patient with bunglers and fault-tinding
churls,
And tall, awkward lads who came counting her girls:
She was patient with crockery art could mend,
And chimneys that smoked every day the wrong end;
She was patient with reapers who never would SOW,
And long-winded callers who never would go;
She was patient with relatives when, unlimited,
They came, and devourcd, then complained they
were sighted;
She was patient with COWS that got into the corn.
And other dark dee Is out of wantonness born;
She was patient with lightning that burned ~ the
She was patient with poultry unwilling to lay;
She was patient with rogues who drank cider too
strong, ...
She patient with sermons which lasted too long
She patient with boots that tracked up her clean
floors,
She was patient with peddlers and other smooth
She was patient with children who disobeyed rules
And to crown all the rest she patient with FOOLS
The neighboring husbands all envied the lot
OF Darius, and wickedy got up plot
To bring DER his sunshine unpleasant spot
You thiuk your wite's temper is proof against 8te
But IRE know of something her smiles will abate
When she gets out of wood and formore is inclined
just send home the cTOOkedest lot you can find:
Let as pick it out, let as go and Oh Dose it
And Wen bet you a farm when she comes for to
Her temper will crack like Nathan BOWS cornet
And she'll be as mad as an elderly hornet.''
Darius was piqued, and he said with a gum
$ I'll pay for the wood, if yo1t'U send it hum:
But depend on it, neighbors, danger will come.'
Never entered the gates of Christian abode.
A rams horn was straighter than any stick in it:
1t seemed to be wrigghng about every minute;
1t would not stand UP. and it would not lie down;
1t twisted tn vision of one-half the town.
To TOOK at such fuel was really sin,
For the chance was StrabiSmus would surely set in
Darius said nothing to Mercy about it:
1t 1cGs crooked wood-eyen she could not doubt it;
But never harsh word escaped her sweet lips,
Any more than if the old snags were smooth chips.
She boiled with them, baked with them washed with
them through
Inc long winter months and knew
But the wood was as straight as Mehitable Drew.
Who was straight die, gun. an arrow,
And who made it her business a male hearts 10
harrow.
When the pile was burned up, and they needed more
wood,
Sure now,' unused Darius % shall catch it good;
She has kept her remarks all condensed for the
spring,
And my ears for the trick deserve well to sing
She never did scold me, but now she will pout,
And say with such wood she is nearly worn cut
But Mercy, unruffled. was calm, like the stream
That reflects back at evening the suns perfect beam;
And she looked at Darius. and lovingly smiled,
As she made this request, with temper unriled:
. We are wanting more fuel I'm sorry to say:
L burn a great deal too much every day,
And mean to use less than have in the past:
But get, if you can, dear, load Ike the last:
never had wood that liked half so we'll
Do see who has nice crooked fuel to sell:
There's nothing that's better than wood full OF knots
1t fays so complete round the kettles and pots,
And washing and cooking are really like play
When the sticks nestle close in charming way
-HdTpeg'S Magazine.