Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-07-05
II can't deny vou are my SON"


wherein mother yearning and patriotic
scorn fought fierce fight for suprem.
acy.
Il cant deny that You are my son,
Strong Martin Headstrong oughter
be n your name. for You We took the bit
in your mouth at every important turn
Of your life maxim inc and Eben's heart
ache, more'n all the rest of our brood
put together
You've been making us fus' proud
Of you, and then shamcd Of yon. ever
sence the day me and Eben brought you
out TO mcetin TO this very town You
can see the stccple Of the church you
was baptized in with your own eyes
from this Identical s''>' II IL wasn't
for that clump al ca. And the
governor-blessed old ! -. tightin this
very mint for his country, the lawd
only knows where-he met Us. ! say,
on the road. or passed US ruther Me
and Eben was in the spring wagon.
driving old Billy Biaze-you remem
Der old Billy. Seth, sonny? And the
governor. he passed US with them
spanking grays Of his. aud when he
saw what me and Ehen was up to-you
was layin in white heap in my lap,
Strong-hc put his head ont the side OF
the buggy. jus "a friendly rs friendly
could bc, sayin in that hearty voice Of
hisn, What you goin 10 name him,
Eben?' And Eben. he called back: We
amt made up our minds yet. Becky
and me have turned over just about 300
or 80 Of good Christian names, bu,
somehow nuther they don't none o:
EN- seem good enough for this chap
"You see. sonny" turning apologet-
ically toward Seth, "hc come right aft
er You. and he was a real handsome
laddie We hadn't learned then that
handsome IL as handsome does. And
then the governor he laughed and said,
Name him for me, Eben. and he will
be sure Of the presidency. And we all
laughed, and old Dolbear, he was hold
ing the grays in all this time, let 'em
go. and the governor was out Of sight
in n jiffy. and Eben he turned to me
and said, What do you think Of It.,
Becky And said. What, Eben?' And
he said: About naming him after the
gov 'ner Strong Martin don't sound so
bad And | said: No. it didn't
ruther liked the sound Of it, and we
settled OH 1t right there and then, 50
you can't say we didn't give you fair
start in life. Strong Martin, for that
led up to the gov'ne sendin You of
20 school and givin you better chance
than ever your brothers had And what
good has it ever done you? II turned
you az inst your home II turned you
az inst the gov 'ncr's family. Ii drove
you To settle down at Neck or Nothing
as surly and obstinate as could be, and
finally it's drove you into raising your
hand AK inst your own father and moth.
er Don't say word, Strong Martin.
for all your gold lace and your cringin.
crawlin, Yankee shoulders out yonder
touchin their hats like a plantation mig
ger ev'ry time they come whar You are.
I'm more ashamed OF You at this mint
than ! ever thought TO be Of anything
that bears the name of Martin. | can't
deny you bein my own flesh and blood,
but don { want nothin Of you. You've
cast in your lot with the enemies of
your own people, and couldn't feel no
worse than l do this mint if you was
layin dead in your coffin before me,
stead of standin there SO brassy and
bold in your Yankee clothes Oh. Strong
Strong''
Mamie Colyer. standing by the old
woman, tenderly drew the grief stained
cheeks within her sheltering arms
LET us 20, Mrs Martin. Let us go
home You will feel better after we get
back to Liza.
No word. no look for him.
Yes, let US go nome, cniid We are
not wanted here any longer