The record-union., 1891-01-25
THE EVICTION.

For Farmer Wallaston to move away.
The mortgage was forecloSed, the Sheriff come
To take possession of his ancient home.
That home, creation of long years of toll
For he himself had broke the virgin soil
Full half his life ago. The Indians then
His nelghbors were, saw few of other men.
Around his cabin in the moonlight gray
The wolf and panther prowled in quest of
prey.
With lissome motions, natures artless grace,
The spotted fawns would oft each other chase
Before his puncheon door, all needless of his
face.
Then life was hope, for he was young and
Sang as he plowed, nor thought of aught but
song.
There at the cabin door his faithful wife,
Fair blue-eyed partner of his daily life,
Would often sit, nor yet the rolling sun
Had twelve months measured since they twain
were one.
Toll then was but another name for play,
For Nancy's smile charmed all his cares away.
Nor did they once imagine they were poor,
They never looked behind, but always looked
before.
He sees her now all bent with weight of years,
And times deep burrows full of bitter tears,
Beholds her fondly linger DER each trace
OF loves sweet labors; each familiar face
OF shrub and flower she visits and she looks
Wringing her hands, upon the blessed hooks
Where bloom her tiger-lilies and moss rose,
And where her favorite Towering almond
grows,
Her velvet pansies, and the fragrant pink,
And scarlet honeysuckles where do drink
The humming birds at eve and bees in early
morn.
.Ah me,' she cries, ''that ever was born,
Or lived to see this day or hear of debt,
Cursed be our notes or mortgages, and yet
Twas falsehood lured us both to sign the
deed;
How oily was his tongue. our hearts did bleed
At his recital; only give him time,
Twas all he wanted; not single dime
should we be worser, SO we signed his bond,
Nor dreamed of this, nor ever looked beyond.
Oh fatal confidence! but yesterday
The villain, clad in broadcloth, drove this
way;
Grinned as he passed the gate, as glad to see
His bondsmen brought to want and misery
And must never, never see thee more
Dear, dear old homestead never by the door
The climbing rose and honeySuckle train
Or watch their blushing beauty smile again?
Or at the gate the purple lilac smell?
Or mark the globes upon the SNOWFALL swell :?
Or scold the thorny privet clambering DER the
well?
Now stranger forms shall fill the rustic seat,
And alien eyes your opening beauties greet.
Along the paths unwelcome feet shall tread
And gaudy carpets on these floors be spread
Oft have l hoped that when with me shall
time
Reverse the glass and shall seek the cline
My dear ones gone inhabit, and the men
Should sadly bear me out feet foremost then
Then had hoped to pass between these trees
Delusive fancy. Surely no man sees
Where he shall die or where be laid ut last''
Thus wept and mourned the sorrow-laden
dame.
Now through the gate the ancient neighbors
came,
And wrung their hands, and said "Good-by ~
and prest
Love tokens on them, prayed that in the West
Their aged feet would lind the welcomed rest
Denied them here; prayed that some little
farm
From utter want would keep them; and no
harm
Should e'er befall them! sThanksp, the
farmer said.
1T matters not where'er my feet be led,
I'll ne'er forget you, comrades of my youth
And ifan old mans blessing, who the truth
And honor loved, whose sympathizng heart
that part
Be ever with you. God will surely bless
His aged servants in the wilderness
Some little yet remains, brief is our STAY
Sufficient, let us trust, for our short day"
And then he lifted up his voice and wept,
And they wept with him and the children
crept
Into the old DANES lap, who little visit.
And claSped their arms about her neck and
Her ON both withered cheeks and smoothed
her hair
And called her Grandma, ever good and ever
fair"
But now the Sheriff spoke and said that he
Must do his duty. Would they give the KEY?
And then the wagon was brought round, the
load
Was filled in carefully, and when was slowed
All they would take, into the yielding seat
The old pair clomb with hesitating feet;
Spoke 10 the faithful team that started on
Nor sadder spectacle heever shone upon.
-PydiYie Eu7n1eT