The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-19
HONEST ABE, U. S. A.
His Patrons Demand a Change in
Poetry.

Ever since the first of March the
residents on my mail route have been
demanding spring poetry, but when
went over my route the other day /
found that a change had taken place.
They had barreled up their spring
poetry and stored it away in the garnet
and wanted another sort. People get
tired Of one brand of poetry, just as
they do one brand of coffee or tea. and
the poet who would retain the affec-
lions of the farming community must
be ready to change at a days notice.
When 1 got along to Zadoc Browns
I found the old man cutting weeds at
the gate and waiting for my arrival. I
had no mail for him. but after we had
passed the time Of day he said:
ssAbe, come. out to the barnyard a
minute. I want to show you the incest
calf in all this state.
followed him, but saw no calf. He
led the way into the barn, and when I
continued to look around he dropped
asked:
what do you think about a man
sixty years old getting married again ?"
81 think it's all right if he has found
somebody to suit him. As you have
been married twce, I thought you
would remain a widower the rest of
your days"
II thought SO myself until a month
ago. You've seen the Wilder Taylor,
who moved in on the Jones farm %
"Of course. If l hadn't wife and
seven children, all alive and kicking
out shoes, I'd marry her myself. Are
you casting sleeps eyes that way.
Uncle Zade ~
'ss-s-s-s-shl don't want the chill
dren to get on to it. They'd raise Cain
Yes, Abe. I'm. stuck on the wilder.
Ever since 1 went down there three
xron1rr AGO n h11V hog of her I've
had her in my thoughts
And you want to marry her?"
'.Durned if I don't. The children will
whoop and howl and tear around. but if
she'll have me she shall be Number
well, what can I do to help the
affair along? Shall I stop and put in a
good word for you?''
You can do that. Abe. and you can
do something else. The other day, when
I called there to tell her that her apple
trees ought to be whitewashed to keep
the bugs off. she was reading Shake
speare with one hand and churning with
the other She told me that she dotted
on poetry. 1 want you to write me
something to capture her heart Get Off
something that win make Shakespeare
look sick
Uncle Zade has lifted a crock of but
ter into my cart many time as 1 was
driving home and I wanted to show
drinking a pint of his hard cider and
feeling my heels begin to lift, 1 wrote
as follows:
Her eyes are black as any sloe's.
Like midnight is her hair:
Her teeth are like SO many pearls,
Her brow without care.
Her song is like the nightingale
Her step like the gazelle;
The beauty of her form divine
Is hard for me to tell.
i've had two wives already, and
I'm thinking of a third:
Because within my bosom here
Ny loving heart is stirred.
Il have not told her Of my love
The longing in my heart;
The wish to hold her In my arms,
And never. never part.
But she must know just how feel
The love that cannot fade
And some day she'll say yes to me,
And marry Uncle Zade."
'sWen. what do you think of it," I
asked after had read the verses aloud
and given the proper gestures with my
right hand.
what do I think Of it," repeated
Uncle zade as he brought his big fist
down on the fanning-nill with a
smash. It think that jim Shake
speare, or whatever his name was or is.
had already picked out the COWS and
and let poetry alone. Say, Abe, it's i'm
marry me TO that wilder woman as
/ sure's you're born It's going to set
her to thinking about me and start
! love TO budding IN her heart Not a