Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-04-08
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Don't cut down your figures; make it an
Y or a V;
For that ere written agreement was just
the maxim of me.
Coin home that evenin'. tell you was
blue,
Thinkin' of all my troubles, and what
was goin to do:
And, II my hosses hadn't been the stead
lest team alive,
They'd We tipp'd me over. certain, for
couldn't see where to drive
No-for l was laborin' under heavy
load;
No-for was travelin' an entirely differ
ent road;
For was a-tracin' over the path of our
lives ag'in,
And seein' where we miss'd the way, and
where we might have been.
And many corner we'd turn'd that just
to a quarrel led,
When ! ought to've held my temper, and
driven straight ahead;
And the more l thought 1t over the more
these memories came,
And the more struck the opinion that l
was the most to blame.
And things l had long forgotten kept
risin' in my mind,
or little matters betwixt us, where Betsy
was good and kind;
And these things they flash'd all through
me, as you know things sometimes
will,
When a feller's alone in the darkness,
and everything is still.
But" says 1, we're too far along to
take another track,
And when l put my hand to the plough
l do not oft turn back;
And 'tain't an uncommon thing now for
couples to smash in two
And SO l set my teeth together, and
vow'd I'd see it through.
When / came In sight O. the house twas
some'at in the night,
And just as turn'd a hilltop see the
kitchens light;
w Nth OLlCu u udu bOuc plILuI W u
hungry person makes,
But It don't interest feller much that's
goin' to pull up stakes.
And when l went In the house the table
was set for me-
AS good supper's / ever saw, or ever
want to see;
And / cramm'd the agreement down In
my pocket as well as / could,
And fell to eatin' my victuals, which
somehow didn't taste good.
And Betsy she pretended to look about
the house,
But she watch'd my side coat pocket like
a cat would watch a mouse;
And then she went to foolin' little with
her cup, -
And intently readin' newspaper, a-hold-
In 1t wrong side up.
And when I'd done my supper draw'd
the agreement out,
And give 1t to her without a word, for
she know'd what twas about,
And then humm'd little tune, but now
sud then a note
Was busted by some animal that hopp'd
up In my throat.
Then Betsy she got her specs from off
the mantel shelf,
And read the article over quite softly to
herself;
Read it little and little, for her eyes is
gettin' old.
And lawyers writin' amt no print, es-
pecialy when it's cold.
And after she'd read little she give my
arm touch,
And kindly said she was afraid | was
lowin' her too much;
But when she was through she went for
me. her face a-streamin' with
tears,
And kissed me for the first time in over
twenty years.
don't know what you'll think. Sir-I
didn't come to inquire
But | picked up that agreement and
stuff'd it in the fire;
And l told her we'd bury the hatchet
alongside of the COW;
And we struck an agreement never to
have another row.
And told her in the future | wouldn't
speak cross or rash,
If half the crockery in the house was
broken all to smash;
And she said In regard to Heaven, we'd
try and learn its worth
By startin' a branch establishment and
runnin' it here on earth.
And SO we sat a'talkin' three-quArters Of
the night,
And open'd our hearts to each other until
they both grew light;
And the days when | was winnin' her
away from SO many men
Was nothin' to that evenin' courted her
over again.
Next mornin' an ancient virgin took
pains to call on US,
| Her lamp all trimm'd and a-burnin' to
kindle another fuss;
But, when she went to pryin' and openin'
| of olda sores