The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-09-29
HOST HIs'FEE!.

Chicago Tribunc: While Henry King
was reading law he helped pay his ex-
penses by teaching school in the coun-
try districts around Chicago. During
one OF these experiences ne boarded
with m old farmer and formed close
friendship for him and HIS worthy wife.
They were well-to-do and appeared to
be happy and contented in the evening
OF their days, having struggled togeih-
er to acquire, the comfortable farm and
TO rear and educate their children, none
] OF whom remained with them. some
having married and sought other homes
and some resting beneath the messy
marbles Of the village graveyard. Nat
urally the young law student won the
esteem and the affections of the honest
old couple, and these sentiments were
heartily reciprocatea by him. H
After beginning the practice OF law
In Chicago. Henry King lost sight of
his old friends, but one day when he
was sitting in his office wondering how
he was going to get business enough 10
pay his rent the door opened and in
walked bis old friends, the farmer and
his wife.
We've hunted you up. Henry" said
the old man. because We know you're
an honest man, and we want a law
yer"
"a lawyer?"
and what's more we want you to get
us divorce"
but, my dear friends"
E"DOn't gtOna IN nrUt,n tho n 90 JNa'va
made up our minds. Things have gone
from bad to worse, we can't agree no.
how, and we're bound to have n d.
vorce. II You won't get 1t for us, some
other lawyer will, but for old friend
ships sake I'd like to pay you the fee.
VIII you get that divorce or won't you !?
Come. speak Out"
Henry King was sadly puzzled. He
saw that nothing could be said by him
which would mend matters In the least.
His protests would simply precipItute
the affair and drive his old friends
away from him with bitterness in their
hearts toward him, added to the bitter
ness they already had In their hearts
toward each other. He glanced over
his shelf of calf-bound law books and
tucked in between two fat yellow vol
umes he saw a thin book with the gild-
ed title, Farm Ballads, by VIII Carle-
ton"
He walked thoughtfully over to his
bookcase and, leaving the portly law
volumes to repose undisturbed, took
down the Farm Ballads" and returned
to his seat beside the table.
My dear, old friends" said he, there
Is q report OF q case something like
yours. Shall I read 1t to your"
Certain" said the old man, IF 1t
shows how we can getn DIVORCE
ut does do that, can assure you"
well. then, read It," said the farmer
truculently.
Yes. read It," echoed the old lady in
q voice that trembled somewhat, but
lacked nothing of decision.
This is q case In which n farmer
and his wife resolve that the law shall
grant them u divorce. 1t begins as fol-
lows:
Draw up the papers. lawyer, and make
them good and stout, gN
For things at home are crossways and
Betsey and are out:
We who have worked together so long
as man and wife.
Must pull In single harness the rest of
our nat'ral life.
What Is the matter? say you; swan It's
Most. OF the years behind us we've passed
I by very well:
l have no other woman, she has no other
Only we've lived together as long as ever
We can.
So have talked with Betsey and Betsey
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-satherins this for years n
little ut time.
Here the reader paused and glanced
at his listeners. They were evidently
surprised and interested. The poem at
that time was comparatively new, and
this was its first hearing by Henry
Kings clients. who were not prepared
for the pathos and the strong homcly
human interest OF the story. Resum-
ing his reading the young lawyer heard
n suppressed chuckle from the farmer
and caught n swift glance of shadowy
coquetry toward the old fellow from the
good old lady's eyes MS he read the fol-
lowing stanza from the ballad, In which
the petitioner for divorce says to the
young lawyer:
Once when was young rs you and not
SO smart. perhaps,
For me she mittened n lawyer and sew
eral other chaps;
And all of them was flustcred and fairly
taken down.
And,1 for q time was counted the lucklest
man In town.
But soon the pathetic recital began to
affect the old people. and soon reluctant
and withered hands were clnspcd and
slowly the tears gathered In eyes that
had been full of hostile fire. And when
the climax was reached in the touching
llness
And one thing put In the paper, that first
to mo didn't occur.
That when I'm dead ut last she'll bring
me back to her:
And lay me underneath naples planted
years ago.
When she and I was happy before We
Guarrcled so.
The old lady was crying softly and the
farmer was patting her on the back. and
saying, There, there, don't cry. It's all
right, mother; I've been an old fool:
let's go home and be sensible" and the
old lady was saying It was all her fault,
and the two came near falling out again
in the eagerness OF each to assume all
the blame.
Labor and Capital.