Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1901-03-28
UNCLE JOE AGAIN

Say. believe that fellow Doi7tcfit
is a pretty good fellow, or else be feels
guilty and can't get mad. He offered II
| would come over, to go cahoot with
me in the chicken business and made
me a right liberal offer, too, but this
being a good field for the chicken bust
ness and seeing that Iget both chickens
and cahoot ] can't afford to accept his
offer.
saw Cold Wave up here again since
l wrote you, but guess he came before
you got to see him. May be he won
come any more till Easter.
| saw Cold Wave and Austin Coppln-
ger once gigging fish They were both
in canoe and got after large trout.
Cold Wave said to let the trout pass,
that be would get him. So the trout
came at lightning speed at distance
OF about 10 feet and Cold Wave pitched.
As soon as the waves were little quiet
saw the end Of the gig pole quiverng,
and sure enough be had fine one, too.
Cold Wave was about right about me
coming over l can't hardly stay here,
and how can go there, but If he has
cakes III try hard to get off the colt.
When ! was boy about twelve or
thirteen Austin Coppinger was on a
hunt and stopped over night at my
fathers house, After supper he and
father were exchanging yarns of vari-
ous kinds and Anstln told mo one new
or forgot. The reason remembered it
so we'll was because he got me to a
great height Of expectancy and let me
fall with greater weight of disappoint-
ment. ! was sitting in corner with
my toes in the ashes Of big old-fash-
toned wood fire, and my mouth and
ears wide open. Said he: III was the
worst surprised the other day | ever
was | picked up my gun and thought
would step out and perhaps | might
find squirrel or rabbit. 1t was late,
almost sunset, and | didn't go more
than three or four hundred yards, aid
of course you know did not expect to
find anything unless it should be a
/ squirrel but sir, to my great surprise
| | went on out into little thicket and
was out of heart of finding even small
! game, and started back home, and sir,
| you may not believe it, but after was
in sight of my house, and you know
didn't expect to see even rabbit, but
sir, went on and got to my gate, right
and the house, and sure enough, / did
MT see d--n thing" You see ] ex
pected every minute to hear him tel Of
killing large bear or an elephant Oh
some great monster or other.
have been requested to write the
following song:
TWENTY YEARS AGO.
I've wandered by the village, Tom,
I've sat beneath the tree,
Upon the old school-house playground,
That sheltered you and me,
But none we're there to greet me, Tom
For few are left you know,
Who played with us upon the green,
Just twenty years ago.
| The grass is just as green, dear Tom:
Barefooted boys at play
Are sporting just rs we did then
With spirits just as gay,
! But master sleeps upon the hill
Which coated DER with snow
Afforded us sliding place,
just twenty years ago.
The old schoolhouse, tits altered some
The benches are replaced,
The new ones they're like the same
Our penknives had defaced.
The same old bricks are in the wall,
The bell swings to and fro,
The music just the same, dear Tom,
Twas twenty years ago.
The rivers running just as still,
The willows on it's side
Are larger than they were, dear Tom.
The stream appears less wide,
The grape vine swing is ruined now
Where once we played the beau
And swung our sweethearts, pretty girls
just twenty years ago.
Down by the spring upon an elm,
You know | cut your name,
Your sweetheart's just beneath it, Tom
And you did mine the same.
Some heartless wretch has peeled til
bark,
IT'S dying sure but slow,
Just like the one whose name you cut,
Died twenty years ago,
My lids have long been dry. dear Tom
But tears come in my eyes.
| thought of her loved so we'll,
Those early broken ties.
visited the old church yard
And took some flowers to strow
Upon the graves of those we loved,
just twenty years ago.