The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-02-11
A serenade.


by II. L.. q,
Sometimes, when snowy winter "shakes her
white down in the air."
When barns are stuffed with treasure and fields
are white and bare
When Mercury runs downward just as fast as
he can go,
Till he seems to strike the bottom, or a half an
inch below,
Although their ears and fingers, in danger are,
they know,
Yet some boys brave King Winter and to see
their girls they CO.
Now listen, gentle reader, to an awful tale of
woe,
Which originates in Highland, near the town
Of Rains-bor-o.
Near this pretty little hamlet, on Hfty-acre
farm,
Stocked with thrifty swine and cattle, pocket
book an eye to charm,
Lives farmer, wise and wealthy, Independent,
selfWilled, plain,
Thinking only Of his comfort and his growing
worldly gain.
Now this farmer has daughter, fair as one
could wish to see,
Loved by all her plain-spoke neighbors,- by
the boys, especially;
Many noble boys have woOed her,-felt their
hearts with love to flash,
But this covetous old farmer tramples lCoytt
devoid of cash.
On little Farm adjoining, lived strong John, a
renters son,
He had sort O. loved his neighbor, yet he felt
his hopes we're none,
For sweet Minnie told him frankly, when his
feelin's he disclosed
That her pa would send him skitn' if he knew
that he'd proposed.
John, my dear, love you muchly but I'm
feared 1 must decline,
For my father says I mustn't, till your nest is
| better lined"
Out from Minnie's lovin' presence John, low
spirited, retired,
She, on earth to him the brightest, was the all
his heart desired
John had often read nice stories, how young
| men in olden time
Told their dyin' love to ladies through the
harp, or else through rhyme.
So, brand new harp he purchased, Costing
fifteen cents or more),
Practiced hal' an hour or over, then went
straight for Minnies door,
On the night if you remember, people feared
to go bed
Twenty marks below the cipher made them
heap their fires instead.
But our hero, little thinking Of the danger he
incurred
Perched upon ten-foot gate-post, that he
might be palmer heard,
Then he blew the same strain over, for at least
an hour or two,
But no music reached his sweetheart, for the
winds far louder blew.
Then he felt himself grow chilly, and Judged
the time had come
When he could quit his serenade, and seek his
fathers home
Did he jump? o tender mercy save us all
such woeful sight,
There sat John, twiEt earth and heaven, to the
gate-post frozen tight.
Was there no one near to help him2 Must he
on this pate-post DIET
Would his spirit, ere the morning, pierce the
blue vaults Of the sky2
Yelled he loudly to his nsighbor, then he fell
twas little use,
"saye, OH ! save me, or perish Come Oh
come, and thaw me loose
Open flew the door, and brightly sbone the
grand old hickory fire,
But its warm rays soon we're frozen by tht
cruel icy air.
Minnie, standing by her father, looking TOWARD
} the skies above,
There upon that stately gate-pOst, saw the OBJ
ject OF her love.
'Father, bring that pot Of watsr2 pour It al
around his pants
He viii die II mot saved quickly, can see it a
. glance
"JOhn if you win promise fairly, slowly sHi
the heartless host,
''That all hopes you'll now abandon, I will mel
you from that post
"surs, will said poor John quickly, "and o
Tuesday mornings hack
/ viii leave this blasted country and will neve
more come back"
And ho did For Tuesday morning, as tn
hack rolled ont Of view,
e With his oarpet-bag and duster, John, despont
1 ent, rolled out too.