The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-08
written for tho sunday u:n,d. rimo -Dispatch.)

L Courteous lteaQer: 3sttf, .s'.i h
Here is a little pearl Of thought which
may appeal to some fellow traveller on
Life's dusty high road:
hate to cut my finger nails,
They've been such old-time friends
They've always been 50 handy,
Right at my fingers ends.
s =
WHEN rHEy SUN SHINES.
Just hear my TX a-ringing
While L Sc a-splittlng this wood,
And all the time I'se q singing
Cuz, Stranger, Use affecting SO good
Just feels the bright sun shining
And I'd like to dance iffI could,
But 1 just keep a-chopping and singing
Cuz, Stranger, Use affecting so good.
Hits no abusing and affecting
or a-wecping tears like q food,
don't, 1 just keeps a-singng
Cpz. Stranger, l SO affecting 80 good.
Don't try to scare me with troubles,
or what might come If 1t would,
I amt a-listening, SO singing
Cuz,i Stranger, i SO affecting SO good.
So ouit a-thnkng bout worry,
Some things can't be understood,
Come, line in tho chorus Use singing
Cux, Stranger, I'se affecting so 5000.
THO other day on the train wc fell n
with a wild and woody Western man. re
told rs many wonderful tales, one OF
them was about Christmas dance. at
Mocassin Bend. We will try to put 1t in
ia q few lines, and we give It TO you for
what It Is worth. We don't know wheth-
err It is true, and we don't much care.
Here it Is:
THE DANCE ON sMOCCASIN BEND. 4
THE snow was al up through the canyons
And Christmas broke raw and chill
And the wolves driven OH by hunger
Were hunting in packs-to Kill
Bill was dangerous fellow
And he boosted around right smart
How he d killed Il man before he could
vote, s
And he always shot for the heart,
he had fought with Custer and Sitting
And he sure was mean when he was full.
The tune was Arkansaw Traveller
AS we took our place for the dance,
And + was to swing little Molly
And lin was to steer Old Nance.
The breakdown was just half over
The tlddles wero scrceching like sin
When Bill, just as drunk as a fiddler,
Camo cursing and staggering In, Ea
Molly had kicked him Saturday night
For being q drunkard and forcing a fight
"swng your Pardners the fiddler cried
And Molly was dancing for fun
But above the music and shuflng feet
1 hear he click Of gun. =
Woll Just then Bill came reeling UP
And staggered to where she stood
And yelled You say Amt ut to live.
And maybe I amt SO good.
Well, I'm going to die but amt so blue
For I'm going to Heaven. or He'll with
YOU" ,4#
The fddles had hushed their foolish SONG
And stopped was the sound of feet NIL
And the ruddy glaro from tho kerosine
Showed Molly as pale as a sheet \,
Bill drew his gun, with the devils owr
laugh.
Twas the last thing he over done
For Jim had drawn ana coVereu llll'l n
And a shot rang out-just one.
we knew Bin had q yellow stroak
But to draw on n woman was worse thar
weak. # b5l
It's years since the lddles sang that night
That Christmas, Bill met HIS end,
| And sometimes ] talk 10 Molly, my Wife
or that dance on Mocasin Bend,
1
ut is false" muttcref, the president t.
Mark Hanna, 1T Is campaign false
hood to say that nm color blind
|
We will close with the followlng'
| Yes, celebrate the festivals
| But don't forget the fasts
| And do little praying
| While the daylight lasts,
| 1t won't always be summer
| You'll feel the winters blasts
So work some in the vineyard
While the daylight lasts.
Some day the only life you'll have
is lsving DER the past
] And so make haste to do some good
1 While the daylight lasts,
LEBANON WINS
Il