The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-03-31
FARMER STEBBINS AHEAD



DEAR BHurHER .loHN,-
i'n very glad you sent
that money through,
/ BY Cousin Seth, and not by mail, as /
requested you
/ The fam ly's just So much ahead: twere
best it never came,
| Ii JeIebuam Jones had twined his fingers
round the same,
For that young man has principles fit
only to aohor,
And ISL, the kind of relative that | was
looking for
! My sakes Milehium's nowhere near
when men SO false can be
| AS to equivocatc themselves into my
| family tree,
And on its honest branches graft the
shoots of their design,
And make me thini. they re good because
they re relatives OF mine,
| While under those iraternai smiles
robber > iiown is hid:
But that's the inappropriate thing that
Jercboam did
When Cousin Seth tho cavern reached
whose clerk 0 ers!IaGors ne.
| He cried, Where is my long-lost son
I've come so la. to see -
! And SO, to fill that fathers heart with
resurrected joy,
twisted round with him Il bit, to try
and find the boy;
And coming where | had the lucl. that
hymn book lJl 10 win,
opened quietly the door, and both of
us went III.
| The Superintendent still was there: he
gave a little start
| But welcomed us, apparently, with over
flowing heart;
And told us all about the work. and how
twas getting on
And how much money those who gave
unto the cause had Won:
But Cousin Seth, though much impressed
with what he heard and saw,
said be didn't fix the envelopes and
b heved he wouldn' draw.
| Just then the door was opened quick.
and with a solemn grin
loung Jereboam Jones appear'd, and
sidled softly i'll:
| And with him was an older man, who
looked enough like me
Fo've been reg lar StebbinS too. So far
as one could SEE:
bnt >lapping Seth upon the back, | said
My duty done,
For this is .]ereboam Jones. your long
lost Oldest son -
My long lost oldest Son'?" said he:
he $ bout as much my son
AS yon are the beloved babe oftien raj
Washington
1t strikes me that my married life was
very much amiSs.
If I'm responsible lot such a Sncakia'
face as this !
He's blinded You by his supposed
relationship to me:
He's no one have ever seen. or ever
want t. see
AS when fog above u field the Sudden
breezeS tore,
You spicd a thousand thiGgs you did not
even miss before,
So a Il the facts o this affair, az clear as
summer skies.
Straightway arranged themselves before
my reconstructed eyes:
That these We're not veratiouS men. and
this no Sunday Scuoul.
And naugltt was what it seemed, except
one old bald-hea,ied fool
| held these two dcceivers out, with
unassiSted strength,
And by the collar shook each one to my
arms furthere>t length:
They gaspei and danced and skipped
around. without word to SAY
They put their heads together in a new
and painful way.
zone hundred dollars fifty cents and not
a penny less -
| shouted; = and I'll send YOU back your
hymn book by express.
When finally in my discourse Il breathing
pause occurred,
The Superintendent counted out the
cash. without word
Which. with Il manner digni!ir,l. coldly
IepossesSer:
And, still retaining .ierehoam, that
scamp thus add.cs>cd:
And SO you are the bogns friend aud
relative So free
TO spend his time a making fools of poor
old ln.n like me.
I'm Supervisor Of the town where |
have lived SO long:
There amt man in ali that part will
say Eve done Inn wron9:
Thee amt Il mai viii claim hut what
I'm ordinary keen;
But Mhen plant myself i'll town. grow
exceeding green.
And any kind-cxpressibucI mlr. who
acts a civil pant.
Can always find my soul to home, and
honSc,room III hey heart.
Its sad for such smile rs yours to
find so sad u Fate:
And there ; Son,C good in you-at least
enough to use FOR bait:
Without som: Kindness III Your heart,
You conldn't have hauled in me:
And as to how You We used Your gifts,
just pause IL bit and see.
I've gambied. by your cailin. it a Chart
able name,
And my sel:-vaiuation sunk with I'M
accustomed shame.
I've done what I'd have whipped my
boys for even looking at;
And don't suppose hut what own part
of the blame for that:
| thought saw Il chance to make five
dollars ont o one.
| Which. with strict justice all around.
is very seldom done.
But up to that outrageous pAiut he mem
Der. | vas led
BY yoar assumed relationship, and sew
cral things yuu said.
DO Yen reflect. Hnui.g man. upon the
fruit YOU re coming TO?
ThcIc'S prison crates awaiting now To
stand in front ut you.
There grief of unexpected kinds and
every sort of shame,
To send Sou home from this would much
poorer than you came.
Your guilty head you hang before us
sinners standing by:
What angle do you s pose 'twould take
'mong-t angels in tie sky
"There's hope cen on the death bed for
Il square, straight forward thief,
| But JUdaStS have alWaj come to most
peculiar grief:
| The Lord has pity. | suppose, for erring
men and weak.
But ma good satistaCt ny place in which
to put a sneak.
And whru 4 man wins men esteem then
thrircs b, their mistakes.
lie makes himself Il bigger fool than all
the fools lie makes"
Then my adopted relative seated in a
chair,
With ample necessary help, and sew raj
pounds to spare.
Then Seth and with dignity babe both
the scamI,s good day.
Advising them to gain their bread in
some di$slml!ar way:
And as we Numbered down The stairs,
with heavy rural tread,
felt that Id at last come out some
several rods ahead.
WILL CARLETON.