Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-22
PHdETON.

Before Copcrnicus and others proved
The sun stood still, and was the Earth that
moved
rh~bus Apollo. as all freshmen know.
Was the suns coaChmun. This was long ago.
Across the sky from east 10 west ali day
lie drove, but took no passengers or pay.
a splendid team u was; and there was none
Hut he could drive this chariot OF the sun.
Tho world was safe 30 long ns In his hand
lie held the reins aud kept supreme command.
IIut PhTbus had Wild. conceitcd son.
A rash aud lively youth named phnetOn,
who used 20 watch his father mount his car
And whirl through space like agreat shooting
And thought what fun I would be. could he
cOntrivc
Some day to mount the cur and take a drive!
Tho mischief Of ~ was. Apollo loved
The hoy 20 wen that once his heart was moved
70 promise him whatever he might ask.
lie never thought how hard would be- the task
10 keep his word. so, one day. PhnctOn
Said 20 his sire; 'l'd like 10 drive your sun
That a.. mysclf-dcar sir. excuse the pun
Twelve hours through space. You know you
promised once
Whatever might ask
Apollo said. my foolish lov, for YOU
7 fear. my sou. that shall sadly rue.
Lend you my chariott No;-l really can't
u NJ there something else that can grant
Instead OF this! \ serious thing 2 would he
10 have my horse fun a." ~, Ygu see.
You might bring ruin on tho cart aud sky,
Try something else. here $ a great wheel OF
The moon.a bicyclc-a,rnost as bright
~ my sun-churiot. Get ustridc of this.
AMI move your legs. and yOu'll enjoy u bliss
" motion through the clouds almost as great
~ N you rode Tx" me in royal state.
No. my dear hoy-why. can't YOU understand
! dare not trust you With my four-in-hand."
v ~ hive NO . l9.," Tor hieyS.c@ The boy
My genius n Tor horses. AMI long
To Try my hand NJ yours. They're not so
hut can hold them. know all their tricks.
Father, you swOre Il by the River StyN-
You know you did-and you are In TX.
You cant rctrnct. Besides you need MT fear
NOu'll see am skillful chariOtecr.
I've taken lessons Of u man of worth
n nrst.ratc driver down there on the earth"
- sec, SAID FhWbus, that can 20 back
Upon my promise. Well. then. clear the track"
SO Phaeton lcapcd up and Fraspcd the reius.
His anxious father took deal of pains
10 teach him how to hold them how 10 keep
The broad highwuy-how dangerous and steep
~ was: and how ~ avoid the moon and stars
Keep clear Of Jupiter, the Earth, aud Mars
And dodge the asteroids ana comets rcd:
Follow the zodiac turnpike, straight ahead.
Though clouds anu thundcr-stOrns should
round him spread.
Alas! = was al In vain. A little while
Two hours pcrhaps-his fortune seemed to
when hugo meteor. whizzlng through the
sky,
Alarmed the horses. who began to shy.
Ana shake their ncry names; then plunged
and reared,
And whirllnR him zirzaR downward. till they
ncnrCd
Tho Earth. A conHagration spread below.
And everything seemed burning up like tow
In the suns flames. Then Jupiter looked
down
And saw the Earth, like toast, all turning
brown.
And threw q blazing thundcr-holt but wait
Hero In parcuthCsi- ia like To- state
This may have been a fflegIufn: fuf then
lightning dispatches were not known TO men
Hut only used by heather rods which struck
Tho youth; and by the greatest piece 81 luck
Prevented further loss.
This tale thcv told
In oldcu times. m mi rht bc so bold
a. 20 suggest Nm explanation hero
~ phenomenon by up means clear.
u say those spots ul on tho suns rpd face
Were bruises That b, 20 IN that mad race.
e. \. Tuuch. in ~. NtthplIs.