Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-12-06
Poetry.
Then and Now.
THE OLD LADY's LAMENT OVER THESE De
GENERATE TIMES.

one summer eve chanced to pass where, by
An aged woman in the sun sat talking to her
mate
The frost of age was on her brow, its dimness
In her eve.
And her bent figure to and fro rocked all un-
consciously
The frost Of age was on her bow, yet garrulous
her tongue.
As she compared the doings now with those
when she was young:
"When L was young, young gals We're meek
and looked round Kind o. shy,
And when they were compelled 10 speak they
did SO modestly:
They stayed at home and did the work. made
Indian bread and wheaton.
And only went to singin' school and some
times 10 night mcctin.'
And children were obedient then: thev had no
saucy airs.
But minded what their mother said, and learned
to say their prayers:
But a0,rdddys they know enough before they
know their letters,
And Young ones who can hardly walk will con-
tradict their bettcrs.
Young women now 20 flirting round and
looking out for bcauN,
And scarcely one in ten is found who makes
or mends her clothes.
but then. tell nv daughter.
Folk. don't do A. they'd oughter:
IL l1tN ub-
Why don't they do as they'd oughtcr.
'When Twas young. II man had failed. he
shut up house and hall.
And never yentured out till night, il he ven
tured ont at all:
And hi, wife sold all her shining plate, and his
sons came home from college,
And his gals left school and learned to wash
and bake. and such-lke knowledge
They gave up cake and pumpkin pie, and had
the plaiue>t eating.
And never asked folks home to tea and scarce
" went 10 meeting.
The man that was bankrupt called was kind
er summed by men.
And hardly dared To show his head among hi>
town>-folk,, then.
But n0trdddys. when merchant fails, they
say he makes penny;
His wife don't have gown the less. and his
daughters just a. many:
His sons they smoke their choice cigars and
drink their costly wine:
His wife goes 10 the opera. and he has folks to
dine:
lie walk, the >teeet-. he drives hi, zig. men
show him all ciyilities.
And what in my day were called debts are
now called liabilities
They call the men unfortunate" who ruin
half the city:
In my days twas the creditors To whom they
gave the pity.
But then. tell my daughter.
Folks don't do ~ they'd oughtcr:
They hadn't oughtcr do A. they do
Why don't they do a. they'd oughter:
when Twas Young. crime was crime, it had
no other name.
And when twas proved against man, he had
TO bear the blame.
They called the man who stole a hief. they
wasted no fine feeling:
What folk call petty larceny, in my day was
called Stealing.
They don't make reprobaic the theme of
song and story.
\, il the bloodirr were hi hands the brighter
was hi- glory.
And when murder had been done. could they
the murderer find.
They hung him H. they would crow,-a ter
ror 10 hi kind.
But no,-lddyS. ii seems 10 me whenever blood
il split,
The murderer has our sympathy proportional
To hi> guilt.
And when the law has proved man 10 be- 4
second Cain.
!, dozen Juror will be found TO bring him in
insane;
And then petitions will be- signed. AMI tcXt> Of
scripture twisted.
or plea ~ct up that le-al informaltic> exist
ed.
Until the man, who's proved 10 be- n blood
thirsty 4, Nero
viii walk abroad like other men. only great
er hero.
But then. tell my daughter.
Folks don't do II they'd ougliter;
They hadn't oughtcr do a. they do.-
Why don't they do a. they'd oughtcr:"