The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-30

lie Read VIII Carleton to an Old
Couple Who sought Divorce.


From the Chicago Tribune.
While Henry King was reading law he
heiped pay his expenses by teaching
school in the country districts around
Chicago. During one OF these experiences
he boarded with an old farmer and formed
close friendship for him and his worthy
aife. They were we.l-to-do and appeared
TO be happy and contentod in the evening
Of their days. having struggled together 20
acquire the comfortable farm and 10 rear
and educate their children none OF whom
remained with them. some having married
and sought other homes. aud some resting
beneath the messy marbles Of the village
graveyard. Naturally he young law stu
dent won the esteem aud the affections Of
the honest od couple. and these seniime nts
were heartily recipro ,ated by him.
After beginning the practice OF law IN
Chicago. Henry King lost sight OF his cd
friends bus oue day when he was sitting
la his oaice wondering how he was going
TO get business enough to pay his rent
the door opened and In walked his old
friends the farmer and his wife.
We've hunted you up. Henry" said the
oil man. be .ause We know you're an
honest man. and we want lawyer.
a lawyer
Eyes. and you're the lawyer we want.
and. what's more. We want YOU 20 get Us a
divorce"
"But. my dear frleuds-"
Don, stop to argue the case. We've
made up our minds. Things have gone
from bad 90 worse. We can't agree no
how aud we're bound 10 have a divorce.
II you won't get 10 for us. some other law
FsrffN Nfnf Old frfr NeHf 10
Ike 20 pay YOU the fee. VIII YOU get the
divorce or won't YOU? Come. speak out
Henry King was sadly puzzled. lie saw
that nothing could he said By MIN which
wouI mend matters in the least. His
protests would simply prscipitafe the NJ
fair and drive his old friends away from
him with bitterness in their hearts toward
him. added - the bitterness they already
had IN their hearts toward each other
He glanced over his shelf OF calf-bouud
law books and tucked IN between two tat.
yellow volumes he saw a thin hook with
the gilded title. Farm Ballads. by VIII
Carleton"
He walked thoughtfully over 10 his book
case and, leaving the portly law volumes
20 repose undisturhcd. took down the
Farm Ballads" and returned TO his seat
beside the table.
"My dear old friends" said he here Is
4 report Of a case something like yours
Shall I read II to you?"
Certain. said the old man. III q shows
how We can get divorce"
1T does do that. ! can assure you.'
Wen. then. read H." sold the farmer
truculenily.
Yes. read a." echoed the old lady in
n voice that trembled somewhat, but laea-
"a nothing In decision.
This is case In which a farmer and
his wife resolve that the law shall grant
them a divorce II begins as follows:
Draw up the papers. lawyer. and make
them good and stout.
For things at home are crossways ana
Betsey and I are out.
We who have worked together so long as
man and wife.
Must pull In single harness the rest Of
our natral life
What Is the matter? say you. swan it's
hard 20 tell:
Most OF the years behind US we've posssd
by very we'll.
I have no other woman. she has no other
man
Only we've lived together as long AZ Ne
ever can.
SO ! have talked with Betsey and Betsev
has talked with me-
And so we've agreed together that we
can't never agree:
Not that we've caught each other IN any
terrible crime;
We've been a-gathering this for years at
little at a time
Here the reader paused and glanced Al
his listeners. They were evidently sur
prieed and interested The poem NJ tho
time was comparatively new and this