The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-12-03
THE OLD TINE AND THE NEW.

AT a recent meeting of Verona Grange
W. Smith of Verona read the following origin
poem:
THE OLD TIME AND THE NEW.
In the olden days, now past and gone,
We worked the farm from early morn;
We drove the sheep, we MIXED the cows,
We fed the pigs and held the plows,
We pulled the weeds in the scorching SUN
Were really glad when the day was done.
Our work was planned for every day,
But scarce an hour was left for play.
We dug the ditch, we built the wall,
We came and went at every call.
We chopped the wood with goodly grace
And piled it in the old fireplace.
We swung the scythe from morn till noon,
And oft raked hay by light of moon.
We reaped the grain and stacked it high
For rainy days to thresh, when dry.
We husked the corn in barn by night,
Sometimes with crews that brought delight:
We hung the corn in house to dry,
And shell by hand-oh, my, on, my!
To have it ground we hauled to mill
And hasty buildings were oft our fill
We threshed the beans on the old barn floor
Winnowed with wind in great outdoor.
The girls they learned to weave and spin;
Do various works, both out and in;
To knit and sew, to wash and cook,
Bring water fresh from running brook;
To stand and work the old dash churn,
Make curd and cheese they had to learn:
To spin the flax and card the wool,
10 get dress to wear to school.
No wooden felts we had and hence
We felt the cold much more intense;
For underclothes we used our skin,
And outer clothes were often thin.
With cowhide boots, froZe stiff and hard,
We worked in woods, in field and yard.
The snow came through the open cracks
And sifted DER our beds and backs.
We rode our carts devoid of springs
And bobbed along DER rocks and things
With jolts enough to settle down
The Johnny cakes SO burnt and brown.
The switch and rod at home, in school,
Were often used spite the golden rule
To spare the rod and spoil the child.
Such whalings now would make us wild.
The parson, too, held up this view
Told the parents just what to do.
The way was hard the road was dark;
We'd naught to do but toe the mark.
And still some things in that old way
Outshone some things we have today.
To great extremes we've swung far out.
And might in some things turn about;
And still, there are many plans and ways
That far excel those bygone days.
A glorious change came DER the scene
That far excelled our fondest dream.
The strength of horse, the brain Of man
Upset complete the Old-tlme plan.
We sit and ride and NOW and rake
And reap and pitch at wondrous rate;
The world has met tremendous change,
And with it came the farmers grange.
The farmers wife, the girl and son
Are lifted out of old humdrum;
More books, more rest, more cash, more fun,
Less work, less care less beer and rum;
More thought for mind, more food for brain,
chance to reach higher plane.
The farmers grange has helped the change;
Well cling to that and not exchange.
These present times, so full of light,
So crowned with joys and scenes so bright,
Have swept us on from old to new,
And heaven itself seems heaved in view,
And while we've grown so much, so fast,
And left some ills of old time past,
Great wrongs there are to overcome
Work in reform that needs be done.
The curse of drink, the curse of greed,
That brings about the direst need;
And woe and crime in lands of wealth,
Disease and death, instead of health.
Spreads far and wide its with ring blights.
Amid our boast of equal rights.
Like honest men all DER our land
Unite as one and take stand,
To purge this land from filth and stealth,
And vote for brains instead of wealth.
Select the men who will do right,
Whose love for truth is their delight;
Then shall the reign of plenty come
To all the poor, and war be done;
Then shall the sun shine out in peace
And wisdoms ways and love increase;
Our land be what it ought to be
The home of joy and liberty.