West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-05-21
THE RURAL POSTWAR.
lie stops The u y. Mall 20 Listen 10 a
Country Poetess.

the accident created talk for five
miles around. | had mail for the
house on my last trip, and as ]
drove up Uncle Jake stood at the
gate with tears in his eyes to say:
"Abe, you must get down and
come in, you surely must. You
heard about Jim Wheeler being
killed, of course3 Well, Amanda
Taylor has written some poetry on
the dreadful tragedy, and is now in
the house to read it. You mus,
hear that poetry, Abe. 1t knocks
old Shakespeare sky-high, and brings
tears from both eyes"
As Uncle Jake is one of the hes,
of men, and as was a little ahead
of my time, | got down from my
cart and went in with him. | knew
Amanda Taylor as the daughter oil
farmer Taylor, over on the County
line road, and l had heard of her
poetry before. She was all ready to
read, but before making start she
explained:
"This is what l call an epic. 1t
is after the style of Greece, and the
lines needn't necessarily rhyme or
contain the same number of feet"
Then she stood up and read;
'In Preston county dwelt man
Whose name was Jacob White;
And on his farm he had man
Who worked both day and night. +"
amanda, that's little strong, "
protested Uncle Jake. "Jim may
have put in twelve hours day, but
the only work he did at night was to
Sleep"
"What is writ is writ" replied
Amanda, and she went ahead:
'Jim Wheeler was the hero's name,
And it shouldn't be forgotten;
And as we gather around the Preside
We will keep his name green in
memory"
''Seems to me there is a sort of
wobble right there" put in Uncle
Jake, as he scratched his head"
"All true poetry wobbles," loftily
replied the poetess, as she looked
down upon him and then read on;
"'Twas on a winters day, and cold
The wind was blowing high;
And now and then the leaness trees
Seemed for to heave sigh.
"Upon hill wind mill stood,
It's name was the Excelsior
And one of its principal duties was
To pump water for the stock.
"By gum, Amanda exclaimed
Uncle Jake, "but there's another
wobble and big one. Is that after
the style of grease9"
cit is. sir" frigidly replied
Amanda. "Didn't l tell you that
some of the lines didn't rhyme7"
eyes, you did, but if you don't
hold on to 'em little tighter, they'll
be over the fence with you. How
ever, go ahead.
"Upon this day of which we write
The windmill stopped its pumping
And though the wind rose to a gale
No water came a-humping."
"No, not darned drop, and the
cows licking their tongues for it, +"
murmured Uucle Jake to himself.
mo water a-humping because il
was froze up"
"What ails the mill7" cried Uncle
Jake.
Whyfore is there no water9'
What ails the mill2' cried his good
wife,
And also his young daughter.
'Then Jim J. Wheeler he arose
And raised his hand to heaven;
And vowed VOW that he would fix
That windmill or perish on the
spot"
"More wobbles, Amanda-more
wobbles," remarked Uncle Jake.
OTIS like driving lame boss to the
plow."
Father, you keep quiet" chided
his wife.
ole must keep quiet or this
poetry will cease" added Amanda.
"He minded not the wind or snow
He minded not the chill;
His noble purpose was to fix
That obstinate windmill.
He cast his eagle eye around,
And pretty soon he saw it;
The pipe was froze, and he must get
Hot water for to thaw it,"
"Thaps what / told him before
he started, but he wouldn't believe
IT," whispered Uncle Jake.
ole turned about to go back 70 the