The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-01-14
Written for The ArkdnSdW TraUeier.
 OUR POLLY.
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.

BY CLARA AUGUSTA. 'Lisha and I have alters worked hard and saved up all we could, Not that we expected 'twould ever do us much good, And she was our only darter, and she hadn't much of a man. He was kinder lazy, and shiftless, and never see nothing to do He was born so fully tired he'd never got rested through! I said that Elizy Ann was all the darter we had There was another one Polly, but Polly she managed bad, Jim Pearl, as worked st days works she cap tured his eye, And she was n silly young iiirt, and he courted her all on the sly, And as soon as 'Lisha found out how matters was going along,
 iRgs was mOrtally wrong. He and talked it over of nights when ali in the house was abed And the boys wasn't round, nor nobody else to hear what was said, And 'ksha he'd glt so excited he'd KICK oil the bedclothes like sin, Which is awful provoking l think, after once n body's tucked in! And he swore of some paths that are mild, and fit for a deacon to use, He'd disown Polly forever, if she didn' Scome round to his views! Ehsha's as sot as the hillsl no man could be more so than he! But POlly's a chip of the old block, and con siderable more softer IS shel And when her father explained she must give the mtten to Jim, She kept on hemminga rune and nummlhga Methodist hymn, And I thought to myself she was taking it dreadful quiet and mild, But Polly person that never allows herself to get rlled Next day twas quarterly meeting the dea con and alters go, The preaching Is gineraily powerful to raise up the hearts of the low We stayed all night with the brethren, and when we got back she had fled. Our Polly was married to Jim, and her father wished she was deadl And he told us never tu mention the name or Polly to him! And, likewise, we'd better avoid any conYer- sation on Jim. After this Elisha growed gray in way it grieved me to sec, He looked like a man of eighty, and ne hadnt turned sixty three; He left oil tending to bizness, and willed his possessions away, And Elizy Ann and Josiah they come to the farm to stay. The bank stock he willed to Moses, and Tom had the timber lot, And Elizy Ann was to see after us for what we had got. Now, don't deny but what it's q cross to nav. igate straight With folks that IS getting in years, and help your even-paced gait You need n good deal Of religion, anu darter EliZy and We couldn't seem to agree, and no more could Elisha and Si'. But had signed ofl my rights with thought less stroke of the pen, And If l complained the leastest, Elizy was mad as hen! One day, when things was crossways, and words con siderable high, Inaio O.til ha waiting diel And Elzy Ann she slat round, and kicked at the dog, which was lame, As If she considered that animal was some how or ruther to blame. But Elisha sot still and quiet, and seemed so That braced my self with an efrort and managed not to speak. Next day Elisha told si that he'd clean in In making his will, and giving to Tom the whole of that timber lot, That it wasn't strict justice to 'Lizy, and he'd call an attorney Tn And have things regulated exact as they'd ort to n been. Josiah pricked up his ears-he's smart as Il whip after money, And when he scents out siXpence, he's sweet as merlasses and honey. He brought the will to Elisha, and 'Lisha ex- amined it through, And we all sot there wondering what he was going to do; He folded the dOcyment CAre1ul ana SlunS it into the fire, And rig up tall and straight as the ortherdoX meeting house splrel And he strode to the door, and opened 1t, and, ssx he to Elizy Ann, 'Git out of this house right livelyl you and your Cussid man!" I felt dreadful to hear the deacon use such an onchrstian word, But then expect his temper was pretty con siderable stirred Elizy she fell to crying, and Josiah threatened and swore, But the deacon had got his back up and turned em all out of doorl Land sakel how well remember it all twas airly in May, And didn't say nothing to nobody. but wrote to Polly next day! And one Saturday just about sunset, as nat'ral as ever could be, She brought in her rosy checked baby, an laid it on gran hers knee. The deacon sot still a minnit-I could see he was kinder upset, But the way he kissed Polly's baby was sight Ineyer forgot! And says he "There's work on the farm for Jim and my self to do, And we'll bury the hatchet deep, and begin our lives anew" Ever sense we've made one family, and haven't got no son That's begin to do as well by me as our Polly 8 Jim has done. And the baby httle blessngl he's as sweet ever could, bel And who shall tend him and spoil him most, is on what we disagree. And the moral of my story is, old people, don't be led To give anything you've got away till after
 you are dead
  Wrinen for The ArkansdW Traveler. nW0Nn TUE MV0u0