Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-14
A Farmers sorrow.

Thc clouds LOOK low and heavy, as II there would
he rain;
1t alNays means had weather when you hear the
TIE wei wont make much trouble now, for all the
crops IN,
Aai ~ / somehow hate to see tia long fail rains
begin.
coudn't sense The half read, The ayr il close ans
II were young as once l was, Ia go up on the
L Isn't as 1t used to he when could come and 20,
And keep upon my feet all day, now am stlr and
slow.
rGeres nothing IN the paper you GA take it II
l can't make hcan nor tail OF half they nowadays
used to think the Farmer was head Of all the resi- ;
Twas full of common solid sense /; ! tell you that's
the bestl
What does pl in old-fashoned man care whether
stocks go duwn7
folks in I ,wn.
Here's new machines preached every week. to help
the folks hat sell
And fashions for the women folks, and other trash
aS well.
Twas readin' all this nonsense here, in winter by
the fire,
Thai made my hoy get notions OF the schools, and
II used TO be SO snug and warm stormy winters
night.
With snow-ccks at the windows and the roarin'
But there he set all doubled up,a-storln' this away
Realm and reaitn' Till said twas more like toll
than play
Readn and readin' til found he couldn't work a
AND couldn't nod the plough an hour, or hardly
lift yoke.
1t stole his miud from farmin', and he up tall
and thin;
l fought him hard enough at nrst, but sfterward
gave in.
They got the minister to come, his mother took his
Until let them have their way, although it broke
my heart
Twas well enough for them to talk, and want CO.
ing to fight;
And then my mind got SO distressed, l couldn't
sleep at night.
Folks talk of tdication as If the Latin showed
a farmer how to cast accounts or how TO stack a
load
But, as say, had TO cope with mother and with
And then they got the minister good, well-mcan-
And pan, he said, must have his chance and pretty
The book fools ana the women folks would be TOO
much for me-
So Dan he got his 'choolin', and never no com.
plant;
When give in DONE take back, but ',would have
never knew the crops 20 fail as they did those
Or money be 30 hard TO get, and was full OF fears.
Inever grumblcd at his bills, but paid them one by
one;
And when the boy came home again with all his
schoon done,
! couldn't ask hm out a-ned or let him do a stroke
lie looked just ike white-sklnncd BIRCH and
teit like an eak.
But that was twenty years ago, and here We he to-
And I've get old and stG, you see, and what was
once like play
have 10 hire strange folks to do or else must lei
sila- is wllin' wants 10 work. but he's boy half
grown.
Now, he's the Kind Of lad like; his checks looI
bright ANA warm;
If could have my way know, Id let him hay,
The farm.
Although he's but y Cousins son, he does seem nca
tome
Yes, nearer, must say it sraight-than Dan coult
ever be.
Dln's professor ana they say he knows as muel
most
But he don't know, and never will how much his
learnin' cost.
Twas him that should have had the place T val
fathers fore twas mine.
I'd like 10 KEEP ii in the name but amt gon II
whine.
Mother she's had it pretty hard; we needed Dan
And would keep him right at home il began III
New.
Firmns the honest wOrn OF men If other folk
must thrive,
Some Of us ought to Say at home and keep tn
farms alive.
Dams Kind Of disapponted-he sees he alnt IN
There want the inaSlngs Of the best. ana vet h
They cal him good scholar bu, there. muc
hes learned IA vain,
II ne dnH', think he'd farm Il, II he could star
Agdl,
Sarah Ore. Jeuet,