The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1895-03-07

Aonther was stirring ballad which
also breathed Of the sea:
cit oft-times has been told
That the British sailors bold
Gould fog the tars of France SO neat
and handy o,
But they never found their match
Till the Yankees did them CATCH
Oh! the Yankee tars for fighting are
the dandy O!'
This interminable ballad, describing
the capture by the United States frig-
ate "Constitution" of "the Guerrero,
that frigate bold" is probably within
the recollection of many living. Dea-
CON Carter rolled out the following
stanza with great gusto:
sThe British shot grew hot,
But the Yankees answered not,
Till they came within distance neat
and handy o!
TO the weather gauge, boys, get
herv
To make the men fight better,
He gave them to drink gunpowder
mixed with brandy or
One other song of spirited measure
and sly humor ran thus:
"Now all ye British heroes,
I pray you lend an ear,
And all ye British forces,
Draw up and volunteer.
We're going to fight the Yankee boys
By water and by land,
And We'll ne'er give DER the fight
Till we conquer sword in hand.
We're the gallant sons of Canada,
Come to arms, boys, Gomez
This apparently reasonable song
when sung by Deacon Garter, unfold
ed a satirical purpose as it progressed,
and when, in the last stanza, the Brit
ish were quite overcome by the valor-
GUS Yankees and ended their song
with the Injunction, run for life,
boys, runv' the children's delight
knew no bounds.
As years passed, Balak's will, so
strong of yore, weakened, and people
began to say to each other, "How
much Deacon Crrter shows his age!
1T was then that the sorest trial which
Garafelia had yet experienced in her
married life came upon her.
| Sleeping by her husbands side, eat
ing at his table, she was as a stranger
to him. He ceased to address CONVEX
Isaticn to her, eyed her furtively with
suspicious glances and avoided her as
much as possible.
Going down the road one summer
day, he spied his nearest neighbor
mending a stone wall. The deacon
stopped and began relating his troub-
les.
'Neighbor," said he, "ever since I
fined the church I've tried to be a
God-fearing man and one that think
eth no evil. There's a strange woman
| to my house. She troubles me sight
She don't go away. She's everywhere
in the house. She-she sleeps in my
room. I d'know but what the neigh
borS'n have to get together and tell
her to leave. She don't pay no atten-
tion to anything I say"
| The neighbor spoke gently and pity
ingly, assured him of coming relief.
and the deacon went on somewhat
consoled.
His mind was clear on all points
save this, but he could not recognize
his wife.
Gradually the silent habit of his
youth came upon him again. Whole
days would pass without speech of
any kind from him, and Garafelia, too,
now talked but little in her old age.
A long, hard winter set in. The old
couple sat over the fire opposite each
other day after day in utter silence,
save when Garafelia in her old,
cracked voice would raise hymn, or
some kindly neighbor came in to see
that the old folks were comfortable.
Sitting there one day, Garafelia fell
asleep in her chair and awoke sudden
ly to find Balak leaning forward and
regarding her with unwonted keenness
of gaze. She sat erect and returned
the look. Surely his glance conveyed
intelligent recognition.
She thrilled with instant presence
of a coming question and answer. A
glow as Of youth rushed through her
veins. She arose, moved close to him
and said gently, "Balak, who be IT"
| No answer, but still that steady gaze
which pierced her heart.
"Who be II" she repeated firmly and
clearly.
"Garafely Keith" instantly replied
the old man with perfect compoSIlre.
| Her maiden name which she had
not worn for more than forty years!
Had time indeed rolled backward, and
did Balak see, under the disguise of
snowy hair and wrinkles, the face
which had been sweet and comely to
him in his youth? She turned aside to
recover herself, and when she spoke
to him again, her questions We're ap-
parently unheard; the mantle of ST.
lence had once more fallen upon him.
| Nor was it ever lifted. A severe
storm came on q few weeks later,
and Deacon Carter insisted upon going
to and from the barn through driving
snow and high winds to- fulfil certain
farm duties. He was stricken down
with fatal illness, and Garafelia's
faithful attention proved her death
blow as well. She died Of over-exer-
| tion two days after her husband, and
the storm which deferred mis- funeral
permitted Balak and Garafelia Carter
Tn ba hIlried the Same day