Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-15
fOuginal.l
Home In the Country

How often dreamed Of "a home IN tho country
And erieved DER the fact that in town must
For Land agents" gathered around me aud
toll mo
Tint as a farmer. could 30 on ~ well
on fool that was iu my iolly 20 tc.'i ','7r
had a neat income aLd something lbh pys
But slyly they spread all their nets anu lueS
caught me. ,,., a., /
And held no a. suro as That "sp'a'r uno
"ny."
NEEDED farm they could suit mo exactly,
/ saw m my minds eye green rarhIlae'
| bought 70 aud paid-weli, the whole oil my SA'-
But lien "my nrst crop would pay back the
Nv We dtsaoproved- laughed at her weak /
TtolI her longed for mis- rural retreat;
halo her I'm haste pack our worldly posses'lons'
And shake tho hot dust OIL inc Town H0"
our feet.
Twas May when we saw our" home n the
rhat~Ittlo white house on a green grassy
The Walls ever covered with jasmine and
named that white cottage my castle Of
Hope.n $1,000 -. a.,
IT'S true that tue lawn was breast-high IN dead
broom grass, -. s.,,,,,,, A.,
Tho walls ~ tns out-house were tast iAihhE IN;
Tho fence round the garden had all tunuied
The weeds in the drive often tickled my chin
W. entered tho houso-found the plas'erins
In ga~;ir one room the whole ceiling was down,
No locSs on tie doors-ah tho W'ndo" glass
An5 nns sa.h rcpla ed by woman's Old gown.
/ Tho rats scampered hitler aud thther In ter
The lizards and bats made my heart quake
WIZ , ,,c, neg until Bessie smiled sweety
And said we must Try to get straight before
night
Letu hustle around-rm ready to help. you,
I'm willing To aid you In all that can.'
she tucked up her sleeves 10 tho dimplod white
An, stcol bv my side, just a. brave as man
she took up a Droom-looked aiouhl ior
And aeksi me a pail Of fresh water to bring.
tramped full hour, then found-hal uiHo
The well - had paid for was only spring
VOL. Bessie and worked hard-and at night
sh 'o' axed uico suppor-the best way she
Then washed up the dlshes--to Got 70 bod early -
because 4 nights rest would 10 both y ~
To fa..cn our doors, We placed chairs 'noaih tho
Them monntei the creakng old rickoiy stairs,
/ q
In sieep to forget all our failures snd cares.
Nv head touched the pinow-ere Morpheus
, tn. soapd Of aregiment on march struck my
Above us winged-songsters in thousands we're
Tbeir .p"s SOLOS and "trios" in tones soft and
"MosTaltos! Oh Bossolo yelled. "rm on
r "Apd 64d-bugs" she answered, they're burn
You'd bstter lie down love, and try not TO mind
them. , -. 4, ,,,,, a., ,
. coid comfort she gave, but know deserved IL
hsmslly scrltc he'd thrO' that long deafy nigh
, And swore II lived MI the dawn oi the NOR
~ .esif the law would not sst my wrongs night
Z But morning brought rain, pouring uOhn
=. t -,'t IN ne windows and under the doors,
Ana sfrsamed down the chimney, with sool
dust, ana ashes,
4 Ard lay in pool on the dining-room noor
/ our ni,ures were monldy, the books fell
o We found blue mildew in place Of late dust
n Grotesqusly tho keys on the piano twisted,
r WhHsc everything was cOrrOded VITA rust
r. / wrote 10 the esehls-'hoy "'"o ''' N' -
o They thought, I've no doubt they had dupe
v me too we'll 49,, n
! Ny "Castlo OF Hope" / now named ." MY Fei
q Oh. fool that was to have bought such Z"
n sell
"a Won he summer tImo came. no crops had bee
- And yainiy tried 10 get something 10 do
$ Ny coat had been patched ana ohs sho' na1
. THiled Il with blacsing 70 hide It from view.
= I had not a penny aud no way u earn one,
y / knew not from day to day where 10 &
- But BESSIE was cheerful and never once grun
), Though sometime we had to go hungry TO be-
ID Al last found work., a clerk In the city.
~ toiled In a haryest Held day after day, .
Or While Bessie did sewing, ana pincned IN u
i moan time,
u To ave enough money totsko US away.
So We tried-aeGyen kn0ws-we worked late OIL
- Put fats held the crown yet, 20 add % our Il
)l- We thought we'd be able 70 leave In fortnigl
re When Bessie was taken with fever ana CHI
& Nodo,tor in reach and no medicine 70 save b
ed on what could 90 N my darling should on
ha Alone in this pestilent home In ,he country,
Wit. never a friend or Z knswoman nigh-
40 Atlaat 70 longer could stand the great angus
,al bors the SLIGHT form In my arms 10 Tie ira
And hiddlog sdleu % my " Eden forever,
VI yow'd iL should soc my face never again.
ia Ny wife, strong and hearty. once more star
- beside me,
And often tell her how near the DO X ended
- ~, ne law down aud shook with IN 80 be,