The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-04-16
THE WEARY FARMER.

ne sun was SINKING IN MS glory
Behind the lonely forest trees,
And dying was the wild birds story
Upon the balmy evening breeze.
Poor John was very tired and weary,
For he had plowed the livelong day;
The fairest scenes to him looked dreary.
The streamlet murmuring on its way.
Was but the symbol Of the changing,
Restless, struggling course Of life.
To him, the tinted clouds resembled
The hopes that lure men thro' the strife.
John took the harness from the horses,
And kindly fed them corn and hay,
And then began to count his losses
AS YEARLY he turned away.
He looked around upon the fences
That needed all to be repaired.
"'TiS quite enough to rack ones Senses"
He sadly to himself declared;
II cannot hire, I've not the money
To make the place look as it ought.
My prospects anything but sunny
fear my dreams will come to naught."
He leaned upon the gate, and signing
He backward looked upon the field.
For years and years have been trying
To make this place living yield.
To all I've tried to do my duty
And keep my farm from mortgage free.
The oak on yonder hills a beauty,
The type Of what a man should be.
But here from dawn till dark labor,
No time to visit, rest or play
A single moment with a neighbor-
The whole year round one long work day.
When Tom and were boys together
His future looked less bright than mine.
But he has breasted LIES rough weather,
And like yon oak his glories shine.
For years he's been by fortune petted,
Two continents have sung his fame.
While I've with poverty been fretted,
Forgetting that have name.
He's tall and strong, straight as an arrow,
His road runs happy, wide and high;
I'm stopped with toll, my paths too narrow,
Life little means to such as 1.
Some day I'll write to him and Sally,
Zone may call names when he's alone,)
If Il my social self can rally
Enough to call my life my own"
John! john He hears her calling.
His hopeful. patient, loving WIFE,
Who helped him bear his burdens CALLING,
And shone the star that cheered his life.
I'm coming, Kate!' she hears him answer.
The lamp is lighted on the stand,
A daily paper lies upon it,
He takes it up with trembling hand.
For Kate the tidings dread has limited
That one he used to love is dead
Cut off in manhood's hour of triumph
John dropped the paper, bowed his head
That night when Kate reviewed the chill
dren,
AS was her wont before she slept,
To find if they were well and sleeping,
John cautiously beside her stepped.
They gazed with pride upon their darlings.
20 bless them, Heavenly Father above!'
They played together, softly kneeling,
Till every feeling failed but love.
Next morning, ere the sun was shining,
John out to work his horses brought.
He leaned upon the gate moment
And yielded up his mind to thought.
For in the night storm had shattered
The mighty oak upon the hill;
Its limbs lay broken, leaves were scattered
In burrows drenched, bebaubed and still
He gazed in sadness on the ruin,
He thought of Tom and Of his wife;
Remembered he had unused with envy
But yesterday, upon their life.
A thousand thoughts rushed in upon him,
He left his horses, went to Kate.
He took her in his arms and kissed her
And said: Before it is too late
Let's count our riches, dear, together,
Henceforth mix rest with toll, and see
In every day some pleasant weather,
For discomfort is poverty"
j. V. H. koons, in Western Rural