St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-27
WHEN HE HELPED TO RUN
THE LOCAL

When helped EN- run the local Oh the St.
Joe Gazette,
/ was upon familiar terms with every one I
met;
For items were my stock in trade in that
my callow time,
Before the muses. tempted me to try my hand
at rhyme;
Before found in verses
Those soothing, gracious mercies
Less practical but much more glorious than
well-flled purse is;
votaIy of MammOn, l hustled round and
sweat.
And helped 'em run the local on the St. Joe
Gazette.
The labors of the day began at half-past s
For the farmers came in early and 1 had 10
tackle them;
And many a noble bit Of news managed to
acquire n
BY those discreet attentions which all farmer
folks admire;
With my daily commentary
of affairs of farm and dairy
The tone OF which anon with subtle puffer-
les I'd vary
oh, many peck of apples and Of peaches
did get
When / helped 'em run the local on the St.
Joe Gazette.
Dramatic news was scarce, but when a min
strel show was due,
Why, Milton Tootle's opera house was then
my rendezvous:
Judge Grub would give me points about the
latest legal case.
And DR.. Runcle let me print his sermons,
when I'd space;
OF feverS. fractures, humors,
Commissions, fits and tumors,
Would DR.. Hall or DR.. Baines confirm or nail
the rumOrs;
From Col. Dawes what railroad news there
was used to get
When l helped EN- run the local on the st.
Joe Gazette.
For personals the old Pacific house was
just the place
Pap Abel knew the pedigrees of all the hui
And when bed gin up all he had, he'd drop
subtle wink
And lead the way where one might wet one S
whistle with drink!
Those days at the Pacific,
When days were sudoIfic,
We're what Parisians (pray excuse my FRENCH
Would call '.magnifiquer'
And frequently an invitation to a meal I'd
get
Joe Gazette.
And when in rainy weather news was scarce
as we'll as slow,
To Saxton's bank or Hopkins store for items
would go;
The jokes which Col Saxtou told were old
but good enough
For local application in lieu of better stuff.
And when the ducks were flying
Or the fishing well worth irving
Gosh but these sports at Hopkins store
could beat the world at lying
And II printed all their yarns (though not
without regret).
When helped EN- run the local on the ST.
Joe Gazette.
For squibs political I'd go to Col. Waller
Young,
Or Col James NJ Burnes the statesman
with The silver tongue;"
Should some old pioneer take sick and die
why. then I'd call
On Frank NJ. Posegate for the 'life''-and
PosegSte knew em all
Lon fuller used to pony
Up descriptions that were toney,
OF toilets worn at party. ball or converse
zione;
For the ladies were addicted to the STYLE
When IheIped EN- run the local on the st
Joe Gazette!
So was wont my daily round of labor tc
pursue,
And. when came night. found that there
was still more work to do;
The telegraph to edit yards and yards OF
proof 10 read,
And reprint to be gathered to supply the
printers greed
Oh. but it takes agility
Combined with versatility
To run country paper with appropriate
ability!
There never were q smarter lot of editors, IL
bet
Than we who whooped up local on the ST. j oe
Gazette!
Yes, maybe it was irksome; maybe discon
tent
Rebellious rose amid the toll 1 daily under
went:
If so, 1 don't remember - this only do ]
know,
Ny thoughts turn ever fondly to that time
i'll old ST. Joe.
The years that speed so fieetly
Have blotted out completely 81
All else than that which still remains to sol
ace me so sweetly. ..
The friendships of that time-ah, mel they
are as precious yet
As when l was a local on the st. Joe Ga
Zettel
-EuCene Field