Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-05-07
JOE; MY PARo. THE PARsoN.

We were sitting round the Ere,
Staring at the logs ablaze
In q sort of waking slumber,
Watching lazily the ways
That the flames would dance and flicker
Lighting up the trees around
While the swapping and the cracking
OF the logs would weirdly sound
Joe, my pard, seemed dull and silent,
Smoked his cob and blinked his eyes,
Only moved to stretch his foot and
Make the flames the higher rise.
Guess you've been that way, old fellow,
P'raps not In the logging camp,
Still the feeling will creep on you
AS you watch the flames decamp
UF the city's smoky chimney
When you're snugly fixed at home.
Loggers camp or stately mansion,
BY the fire thoughts will roam.
So left my pard to ponder
What's the use to break the spell
When chaps o sitting pumping
Soothing draughts from memory's weu9
Joe and I were timber cruisers
Out in Minnesota there,
Met haphazard, struck acquaintance,
Seemed to ut each fair and square.
So we've worked for many season,
Joe's jewel says I am;
Anyway we stuck together
Tight as shells OF any clam.
Well, fixed the blankets ready,
Rugged tho tent up for the night.
Banked the fire, knocked my pipe out,
joe" said l. Il guess alls right;
Time for US to turn in now, pard,
Reckon you've nigh done your smoke"
Then he started, stretched himself once,
Gave the logs another poke.
waiting for the parson. are your"
Said he in an absent way.
Tween ourselves, SIR, Joe was parson.
Every night he used to pray,
Made that contract when we Dartpered.
''Pard," said he, 1--WE got q whim
That my dear old mother taught me:
Said she: Pray each night to Him.
And do it; guess you'll think me
Just q sanctimonious fool,
All ask Is don't disturb me
And I'll carry out my rule"
was hit hard, though a rough one.
Joe" said j, your hand, my lad,
II youth Away be the parson
will join you mighty glad"
"That's 4 bargain" said he, shake, pard."
And that very night we knelt.
Joe, he prayed and as for me, sir.
Down my cheeks the tears would pelt.
Sunday school and boyhood's home days
Proved too much for my old eyes,
First time knelt down with Joe, sir,
Meath the forests starlit skies.
Eyes, alrs ready for the parson,
Pull yourself together Joe.
What's q troubling you tonight, pard,
Think ing work seems mighty slow:"
Then he looked up. "Pard, just sit down."
Said he, were you ever hit
Rather hard by some one woman"
WAS I? Just leetle bit,
First by one and then another"
Said 1, with a quiet laugh;
but SO far I've seemed to jog on
Minus any better half"
"Well," said Joe, i've been thinking,
Staring in the fire tonight,
That's a blazing there so bright;
More 1 stared the palmer came there
Something that brought home to me
Counting days-I once was hit, pard.
Now you know what's troubling me-"
Brace up, joe" said I, quite CHEEKY.
. Put your pipe out, come to bed
Sleep, maybe will kind OF help you
Drive the thoughts out of your head
Did she leave you for another?
Women folk they have no mind,
Then forget"-"Say. stop right tn re, pard,
Don't you say a word unkind.
Or, by heaven. there'Il be QUARREL
Leaping to his feet, he cried.
Down he sat and sobbed: Forget her!
Pard. she loved me, but she died.
Don't you mind me-there, it's over"
And he gave The fire STIR
Then we turned in, Joe was parSon,
But his prayer was most of her.
N. y. Herald.