The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-09-08
The Poet From the Bad Lands.

81 want ter see the pale-faced scrap
wat umpires the poetical game in thi
shack!" he shouted as he loomed up si
feet into the dim atmosphere of the roor
just after the night force had come on duty
e'Throw me into a position whar' XII
ketch a bird's-eye view o. the flowers an
heavenly breezes, man! / want ter get
focus on the unwashed angel wat acts a
hostler to the gentle muse as sings he
songs in the Tribune"
| The literary editor had taken wall
down to Apple creek On his semi-yearly
vacation, but the religious editor said h'
would try to minister to the wants of tht
visitor.
"I'm rhyme singer from the heart o
the Bad Lands" he continued, San
want the hull universe to ketch onto my
intoxicatin' Warbles! Pm a revised an
improvised edition o. Byron bound in
buckskin an warranted not to spring in
the covers or rip in the stitchin'. [ heat
my poetry in the onquenchable fires O. the
burnin' mountain o. the Little Missoury
afore cuttin' the ropes an turnin' 'em
loose, an when they fly in among the
public the sunstroke record goes clear up
outer sight!"
"How long have you been that way ?"
asked the religious editor, looking up from
a church notice he was endeavoring to de-
cipher.
'Ever since the first gray streak o. dawn
peeped athwart my infant face. [ war
born that way an I'll stick to the original
racket till grim death shuts off the flow o.
atmosphere to my lungs. I've brought in
a few O. my tender little ballads which I'll
unwind If the chair raises no parliament
tary objection
No objection was raised and he contin-
ued:
'The first one are tender little ode that
oozed out o. my brain only day afore yes
terday, as [ rode my hoss through the
eternal hills. 1t is entitled
SOUNDS FROM NATURE.
The badger whined in the sun-dried grass,
And shifted at the heated breeze;
The wild cat UP in the rocky pass
SnOoze sort of wearied sneeze
The rattlesnaks raised its musical tail
And sounded its battle alarm,
lille the jack rabbit walled a low, pitiful y all
And the gopher remarked it was warm.
The cataract roared in the wild, rocky dell,
:, And its crystal spray dashed in the air;
The wolves an the catamounts raised merry
well
'Taint proper for poets to swear.
[he deep thunder rolled in a terrible way,
: The Mills bowed their backs In affright;
The lightning like double edged swords seemed to
Athwart the black mantle O. night,
A lizard peered out from hole in rock,
And Winked at the buffalo calf;
he Indian maid picked burr from her sock
!. And laughed low musical laugh:
he coyote hoWled III the canyons dark shade,
. The magpie called out to ifs mate,
he dragon fly buzzed into camp and soft laid
Its tail on the cowboys tin plate.
''That's only starter, pard. That
ong'll contain 3G5 verses when it's COM
'lete--one for each day of the year-an' if
he muse seems to want to crowd matters
II tack another year to it,
"Do you ever do anything in the love
ne?" asked the religious editor, nibbling
t a Glove.
''Do [? Well, should stutter. When
he tender mood comes On me sing o.
ove, and my song shakes the loose rocks
rom the towerin' peaks! Let out another
eef in your ears and take this in.