Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-03-06

l=tTlY llN @
SHE CLOSED HER EYES AND LEANED BACK.
Teller that kin write poetry an that
Mary Jane Bowles is the only gal that
kin have poetry writ about 'er."
Jim Tom laughed lightly and care
lessly. and there was something like
derision In his voice and manner. For
two years he had been what might be
termed the poet laureate OF Postum
Ridge-in fact. lac was. In his own hon
est estimation, the only real poet Pos
sum Ridge had ever had the proud hon
or OF producing. OF course there were
others who tried to write poetry, per
sons who threw together meaningless.
sentimentless lines; but Jim knew that
they were not poets. They were only
base imitators who sprang up In his
wake, AS they always spring up in the
wake of a real genius.
In a thoughtless and unguarded mo-
| Wriggler had on one occasion accepted
| one of Jim Toms poems and. totally
unmindful OF Jim Toms future bappi-
! hess and the welfare OF the public. had
| published IL. From that day Jim Tom
| had felt that he was man apart from
and far above the common human
clods about him and that there was a
higher and broader life into which II
was not only his privilege but his duty
to soar He felt that blowing corn and
hoeing potatoes were not vacations fit
ting an intellect such as his, SO he re-
Taxed his efforts In that direction and
devoted himself largely to the cultlva-
ton of rhymes.
Other people, seeing Jim Toms poem
In the Wriggler and encouraged by his
glittering success threw down the pillow
and the hoe and took up the pen. The
result was there were more weeds and
rhymes and less corn and potatoes
raised on Postum Ridge that year than
ever within the memory Of the oldest
inhabitant.
But to return to the lovers by the
creek side.
~ reckon, then" Jim Tom said pres
entity, Bob Hanks has been writin'
poetry bout your"
Susan Ann tossed her head slightly.
"Mebby he has" she replied, AN
body's business nohow."
"Mebby hit hain't. yet I'd jest lack to
see what sort o. poetry Bob 'ud git up.
Bet hit must be greet truck"
Guess hits Jest bout as greet as the
poetry what's writ by some folks what
thinks they's so misuhble smart"
"Meanin me, reckonr'
Anybody the shoe fits kin wear hit
"Jest So I'd love to see the poetry
Bob writ, though. Bet you dasn't show
hit to me-"
"Bet dast II wanted to-
"Bet you plumb 'shamed O. hit"
"Bet amt nuther."
"Let me see hit, them
"Don't hat to-"
Don't b'lieve hit less see hit"
"Then see hit eff you jest plumb boun
to-" she said, taking a scrap of paper
from her bosom and handing 1t to him
He took the paper and studied over II
long time. Finally he managed tC
make out all that was written on It
Then he burst into peal Of loud
laughter.
Her face famed with anger, and she
gave him look full Of scorn.
what you laughin' bout now, big
gity?" she demanded. Reckon you
think you pow'f smart"
''Oh, sich stuff. sich stun" he cried
Il never see nothin' like hit. an dom,
blame you fer bein' shamed to show
hit"
II want 'shamed to show hit. Hit'l
letter poetry'n you kin write anyhow
"Oh, Lordy, SIGH stuff! Jest a-listel
here:
# S e.: : q: ;' greasy. szssa,
An I'd like to squeeze you.
lord, do you call that shore 'nougl
poetry
"Co'se do. Guess you would, too, e
you want too jealous"
"Humph! You must be pow'ful cas-.
pleased. Ell / couldn't write notEp
better'n that fer the gal | love,
wouldn't write nothin' er tall. Hit
scan'lous stun, shore"
'Oh, do you think SO, Jim Tom? Meh
by eff hits SO musuhble pO' you kin tel
me what's the matter O. hit, you 9
pow'ful smare"
Land! Looks lack you could Sc
that much. Does he say any singl
word In there bout how sweet you al
an how putty"
"No-o," she admitted hesitatingly
don't b'lleve he does"
Goose he don't. An he don't sa
nothin' bout wantln' to bite pieces on
O. you an eat you all up nuther. Yo
shorely moughty easy pleased eff tina
sort O truck satisfies you"
She hung her head and was silent an
thoughtful. Now that her attention ha
been called to It, Bob's poetry did seeI
very fiat and insipid. 1t did not swe
and pulsate with the warmth Of love a
she felt 1t should: OF course it said b