The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-02-05
POETRY.
PATIENT MERCY JONES.
From Harper's Md5a-ine for .Idrad''y.

From HarperS MdGd>in for JdradTy.
Let us venrrltc the bones
Or patient Mercy Tones.
Who lies underneath these stones.
This is her story as once told to me
BY him who still loved her-as all men might see:
Darius. her husband his age seventy wears
A man of few words. but. for her many tears
Darius and Mercy were horn in Nermont:
Both children were chIstcned mt haptismal font
In the very same place, on the very same day
Not much acquainted Just then l dare say
The minister spTnkled 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 wo, through all sorts of weather.
Well. they 1rcre married and happier folk
Never put both their heads in the same loving
yoke.
They were pocr they worked hard. but nothing
could try
The patience of Mercy. or cloud her bright eye.
She was clothed with Content as beautiful rohe
She had griets-who has not on this changeablc
globe
But at such times she seemed like the sister Of job
She was patient with dogmas. where light never
dawnS,
She patient with people who trod on her lawns:
She was patient with folks who said blue skies
were gray,
And dentists and oxen that pulled the wrong way:
She was patient with phrases no husband should
utter,
She was patient with cream that declined to be
butter:
She was patient with buyers with nothing to pay,
She was patient with takers with nothing to say;
She was patient with millers whose trade was to
cozen.
And grocers who counted out ten to the dozen:
She was patient with bunglers and f,ultfnding
churlS.
girls;
She was patient with crockery no art could mend,
And chmneys that smoked every day the wrong
end;
She was patient with reap ers who never would sow.
And long-winded callers who never would 90:
She was patient with relatives when. unlimited.
They came. and devoured, then complained they
sighted;
She was patient with crows that got into the corn
And other dark deeds out of wantonness born;
She was patient with lightning that burned up
the hay.
She was patient with poultry unwilling to lay;
She was patient with rogues who drank cider too
strong.
She patient with sermons that lasted too long:
She was patient with boots that tracked up her
clean floors.
She was patient with peddlers and other smooth
boreS:
She was patient with children who disobeyed rules.
And, to crown all the rest she was patient with
fools.
The neighboring husbands all envicd the lot
Of Darius and wickedly got up plot
To bring over his sunshine an unpleasant spot.
You think your wiie's temper is proof against
But IRE know of something her smiles will abate.
When she gets out of wood and for more is in
cined
Just send home the orookedest lot you can find:
Let us pick it out. let us 20 and choose it,
And well bet you farm. when she comes for to
use it.
Her temper will crack like Nathan BOWS cornet
And she II be as mad as an elderly hornet
Darius was piqued. and he said with rsni.
"1'll pay for the wood. if you'll send it hum:
But depend on it, neighbors no danger will come"
Home came the gnarIed roots and crookcder
Never entered the gate of Christian abode
A rams horn was straighter than any stick in it;
1t seemed to be wrggling about every minute;
1t would not stand up. and it would not lie down:
1t twisted the vision of one-half the town:
To look at such fuel was really sin,
For the chance was Strabismus would surely set
it,
Darius said nothing to Mercy about it;
1t ,cGs crooked wood-even 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
The long Winter months. and none ever knew
But the wood was as straight as Mehitablc Drew,
Who was straight as die, or Il gun. or an arrow,
And who made it her business all male hearts to
harrow.
more wood,
Sure now" unused Darius. u shall catch it good;
She has kept her remarks all condensed for the
Spring,
And my ears for the trick, now deserve well to
sing.
She never did scold me- but now she will pout.
And say with such wood she is nearly worn OUT
But Mercy, unruttied, was cain. 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 a temper unriled:
We are wanting more fuel, I'm sorry to say;
| burn good deal too much every day,
And mean to use less than have in the past;
But get if you can. dear load like the last
I had thatT lp1 half 80 wpl--
DO see who has nice crooked fuel to sell:
There's nothing that's better than wood full Of
knots,
1t lays so complete round the kettles and pots,
And washing and cooking are really like play