The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-08
THE card OF EATON, N. II.
A Rare Old Book of New England Farmer
Rhymes and Its History.

Are you abiDliomaniac, and have you in your
collection OF specimens OF the literature OF
New England a copy OF The Farmers Medl-
tatons. or shepherds songs"2 II you do not
possess this rare volume your collection Is in
complete
Among the pioneers Of New Hampshire were
the Randalls and living in the town OF Eaton
in that State during the first half OF the pres
ent century. was one Thomas Randall. a
farmer. who in his infrequent intervals OF
leisure. Ike the famous Mr.. Wegg. had way
OF dropping into poetry. Ho is said to have
been able to find rhymes for all occasions, and
to have been a ready and volumnous writer.
but all that has survived the envious touch OF
time is the book mentioned above.
Like the poetic fancics Of Homer and Others
before and since. tho compositions OF this
farmer-poet had wide local circulation. In
manuscript and from mouth to mouth. long
before they we're crystalized in cold tyne. At
the earnest solicitation OF friends. presumably.
for your true poet is ever modest about blow
ing his own horn. the choicest OF the poems
were collected and printed. One OF the poets
sons. himself no mean rhymester was an
itinerant peddler. one OF the large number that
forty years and more ago travelled through
New England. taking rags and sundry articles
Of farm produce in exchange for tinware.
brooms and variety OF household conven-
fences. These forerunners of modern com
mercial life are now as nearly extinct as the
American bison. but in those days they -four
ished and waxed prosperous. and this peddler
son OF the poet was made the medium whereby
this book was circulated. II sold for % cents.
Books were not as common then as now. and
many a careful housewife was glad of the OPP
portunity to exchange assorted rags for Ran
dall's rhymes.
The venture was successful. The edition
was not large one and it was soon ex-
hausted. As might be expected. those who
now possess a copy Of this book treasure it as
the apple Of their eve.
THE Farmers Medtations. or Shepherd
Songs" Is an unpretcntous volume "a by A.,
inches in size, and contains pa pages. includ-
ing preface and index. 1t was printed at Linz
erick Me, by william Burr. in 1883 and was
entered according to an act Of Congress in the
same year. in the Clerks Office Of the District
Court Of Maine. by the author.
The preface was written by benjamin r.
Jordan. and is worth reprnting here. Mr..
Jordan says:
Candid Reader: As the author OF this work
has not been privileged with that branch OF
literature which Is so necessary a requisite in
order to prepare n work for the press. but has
been under the necessity OF employing another
for that purpose. he may be considered by
some as incapable OF imparting any useful in
struction to the literati. But let the reader
Of these poems be careful and Judge not
rash,y concerning this work Let him
first represent to himself an illiterate
farmer supporting his family with the
labor OF his hands; occupying those scanty
moments that naturally intervene the IA
tiguinG hours Of labor. even those moments
wherein the 'drowsy world lies lost in sleep.
IN IN ha world ha m cd a ri
fruitful and sagacous mind. His genius. ex-
erting itself under the disadvantages Of illit-
erature. is seen laboring alone in the great
ness OF its strength. to perform, as it were. a
new thing under the sun He darts. as II were.
into the ethereal re gions and there beholds the
host OF heaven. the sun. moon and stars. ex-
hbiting the praise Of their Creator. He ranges
s nd * tbs s great
and condition OF the things and inhabitants OF
earth and sea
has composed this vo lume OF poems. which can
not fail to amuse both the aged and the youth.
and lead the candid reader to admire the pro-
ductions OF the Eatonian farmers unpublished
pen ,,,,oo.,o,
was requested by the author to make correc-
tons no farther than 1t regarded the orthogra-
ply. and punctuation: for which reason the
reader will perceive the measure and sentiment
of the authors poetry without essential alter
atom in his own style and language. He, how
sHeh Words as Being used IN
st rict sense unnecessarily. i have therefore
marked the unRrammatical and eXpletive
" And now. while ! You tins Iittle book peruse.
TnS nd9 ss %1 rrys Muse
scorn to condemn the author or his style;
But learn the words OF Alexander Pope
| Whoever thinks II fAultless piece TO see,
Thinks what nc'erwas. nor is. nor c er shall be-
| Laboring under the disadvantages OF Hit
| eraturc," the Eatonian Bard as the author was
| widely known. has produced and here gives to
the public 1OS poems on u variety OF subjects
4 mixed current of philosophy and religion
permeates nearly all the poems. and the works
| meeting and parting of friends. historical
events and neighborhood happenings. all fur
nished material for the poets use. The Ok >
| Description OF the Horse. with an Account OF
| Alexander and Bonaparte.' is extended &c
tiity-seven stanZas. and even at that length the
author omitted several things that might have
been said Of the horse and the other two,
| The death Of an acquaintance seemed to be
stance, Poem y is "0n The death Of Gllm9l
ii. Died in Haverhii. y. II. by his request
| his corpse was brought seventy miles and in
tered in his fathers burying place" As /
| tract from this truly touching poem is given
| After philosophizing through three stanzas OF
the uselessncss OF tryingto escape death, thu
| author says:
| Poor Gilman Mooney now 10 dead.
The grave is his appointed bed:
His youthful limbs will there decay,
Their form and fashion pass away.
Scarce nineteen years he liv'd in time
| Just in the flower OF his prime;
| lie thcn did leave his fathers home.
| Aud straight to Haverhil did roam.
Unto this town he did repair
| Attended with prudential care;
| H. let himself a hired man
| Industry seemed to be his plan.
| He had not long been in the place,
| Before he was in evil case;
The cholic had this youth a.taok'd.
| His constitution then was ra KID.
| Tho young man grow rapidly worse anC
| physicians were called. who used their utmos
| skill upon those "cholc" pains.
| But all in vain their efforts prov'd
| They found the pain could not be mov'd.
And 40 the agony continues through tn
| deathbed scene and the burr al. and then hi
| brothers and sisters are asked to
| Think OF those limbs completely drawn
| The dusty worms now feed upon:
| His flesh they wholly will conceal,
| When they completely end their meal