West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-05-14
MIR. BowsERs SPRING POEM.
II Begins m Peace and Ends Ia the
Usual Family Row.

making an artificial lake in the back yard
but she asked no questions.
During the dinner hour he seemed to be
far away in his ,hough,s--so much so that
he sweeiened his coffee with couple Of
olives bu, when Il was flushed he got paper
aud pencil and sat down to the sitting room
table and prepared for business.
us there anything On your mind tins eve
ning9" asked Mrs. Bowset after he had
wasted 10 minutes without writing line.
"No'hing very particular" he replied. "I
got notice today that had been elected a
member Of a certain club and that would
be required 10 write and read poem"
''whAl club is it1''
"lhe Spring Lambs"
Mrs. Bowser laughed outright at the
name and he put on his s,ernest look aud
demanded
"Do you see anything so very funny in
tha,p"
She did. The idea OF Mr.. Bowser, with
his $50 pounds OF fat and his stiff knees,
gamboliug around with the Spring Lambs,
struck her as highly ludicrous but she check
ed her laugh and sobered her face and said !:
"well have you started the poem1"
81 am just going to aud want no inter
rup,ions from either you or the cat"
hush fell upon the room at once. Even
the cat held her breath as Mr.. Bowser rub
bed his bald head and began writing. In
five minutes he was red in the face and
hiiehing around as II in pain and a, The end
of IS minutes he observed
"well here is the first verse. /, don't
exactly suit me but guess !, is good enough.
Listen
''The gentle spring is here again,
Again the grass and Howers;
Again we hear the robin sing
And sil in balmy bowers"
"llow do you like IL -
"rhere is plenty of sentiment there" ie-
Piled Mrs Bowser, 'but would change the
last line. There are no balmy bowers until
late in june, any one sitting around would
&c, cold in the head. should make that
line read
"And dodge the thunder showers"
'It will read just as il does now. There's
harmony between spring lambs and balmy
bowers. suppose you'd get laundry or
a cabbage patch into the verse IL you could"
The next verse compelled him to saw
wood until the sweat ran down bis cheeks
and his heroic efforts brought looks of admir-.
alton from the cat. lie cut out aud wrote
in aud crossed out but it was finished at
last and there was look Of triumph in his
eye as he said
"Here is verse No. aud you can tell
me how it strikes you
81 hear the cuekoo's plainiiye nCles--
hear the bluebird inling;
see the honey bee at work,
And nature is s.thrilling"
"You appear TO increase in sentiment"
replied Mrs. Bowser. ''but would also sug-
gest change IN this verse. Can't you get
in that the honey bee is working for shill-
ing or that the geese aie cooling and billing1"
That's about villa, / expect d from yon.
In your jealously you'd be glad 10 have me
spoil this thing and make laughing stock
Of me but don't propose to do a. III
have something equal to Byron before get
through"
lie went at the third verse like bull
jumping over six-rail fence but there were
interruptions 10 distract his attention. In
her nervousness the cat suddenly uttered a
meow that made his heart stand sdll for a
moment and this was followed by stranger
ringing the bell and offering 10 supply the
house with dish cloths at FIVE cents apiece.
The cat was driven downstairs and the
man run down the Steps and half an hour
later the third verse stood on, like circus
picture on a county barn. # read
''The lsmbkins gambol on The green,
The farmer guides the plow.
Aud nov and then you hear the calf
AcaIling for the COW"
Perhaps you can 6nd some fault with
that, remarked the poe, as he had finished
reading.
81 have no fault to find bat might make
suggestion. Is the calf supposed to be
weaned2"
"wha, is it 10 me whether he is or nol?''
"if be IS weaned he might be 'a.callin'
for bay or chopped lurnips. ! should lhink
thar would be more original"
"No doubt you do. You've got about ss
much poetry 10 your soul as an old bootleg
and your feeling Of envy is as plain as the
nose on your face
lie Ihen turned 10 The last verse. lie
had got good thing and he wanted to
round u II IN a way to do his memory credit
Tor years 10 come lie coudn'i have work
Cd harder shoveling coal sod Mrs. Bowser
kept So quiet that she fell asleep At the
end Of 20 minntes he woke her up by saying:
"WeIi here !, IS and II the spring lambs
don't appreciate this poem I'ii resign my
membership.
"Ail hail 70 thee, oh, gentle spring,
We gladly give thee greeting;
And well be sorry when sou 90
To know that you are aceiing."
"Couidnt you have made 'aceGne' rhyme
with eating or 'sheeling' r' asked Mrs.
Bowser after silence.
'No, BY thunder, / couldn't" he exclaim-
ed as he spsaug up III could 6ad a word
TO rhyme with idiot however I'd DO 50 and
apply il to you. I'il be hanged iiI blame
any husband who kills his wife. You can