Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-08-25
A POLICE COURT SCENE.


! don't deny the Cop here found
me drunk,
j don't deny that thro' the whole
long summer,
The sun-warmed earth has been
my only bunk;
But j hain't been able for to earn a
A man with one leg buried in the
tomb
Can't get job; and I've a strange
misgivin'
Bout bein' cooped up in sold
iers' home.
How did l lose my leg? at Spottssyl-
vania;
Perhaps you've heard about that
bloody fight,
But the story won't restrain you
From doing what the law sits
down as right.
] served as private in the 18th New
Jersey
And all the boys say done what's
right,
No one can say that Abram Bursey
Was ever found a shirkin' in a
fight
We had a brave old fellow for a
Colonel,
They called him Sweety; but his
name was Sweet,
Why, Judge, tell you that old man
Would rather fight than eat!
And when it comes to going into
battle,
Old Sweety would never hunt a
tree,
But would be in front and holler
Come on, boys, follow me.
Well, just before the Spottsylvania
battle,
Old Sweety comes to me, says he:
ABE, faint everything that'll rattle
A tough old weather-beaten cuss
like me,
But I've a strange misgivin,
That I'm going to get dose to-
day,
And there's no use of my concealin'
The skittish thoughts that through
my bosom play.
For many years you've been my
neighbor, Bursey,
And I've always found you squar
and true;
No one in our town in old New Jer-
sey,
Ever bore a better name than
you;
And now want your promise
squar'ly given,
That should our cause this day
demand my life,
And you yourself be left among the
Twin
You'll take me home and lay me
side my wife,"
Well, Judge, that day amidst the
biggest fight you ever seed,
Way up in front l saw the Col
onel
Throw up his hands, and tumble
off his steed,
In half minute i was bending Ger
him
And seeing he wasn't killed out
right,
took him on my back and bore him
A little way back out of the fight.
The blood from CHASTITY wound was
pouring,
And so snatched the shirt off my
back,
For ! could see the old man was
going to die
Unless / kept the red tide back
And soon ] see he was reviving, and
heard him whisper
Abe, you've saved my life,
That old wool shirt, along with your
conniving
Has kept me from the grave beside
my wife.
Then while j lay there scheming,
How to get him to the surgeons
care,
A ten-pound shell came screamin'
Just like a ravin' demon in the
air;
And when it passed, / found myself
a-lying
Across old Sweety's body, and found
that tarnal she'll
Had took my leg along for company.
Well, Judge, that's all, 'cept when
the war was over
] found myself worthless, shiftless
rover,
never stole dim from Twin NOR
tai,
And never harmed a woman,
child, or man;
I've just been bum, and hope the
court
Will be as easy on me as it can.
Then spake the Judge, "such worth
less, shiftless mortals
Should not be allowed to roam and
beg,
It's true your case has one redeem
ing feature
For on your country's sake you
lose a leg;
But think it my duty to check your
tendency to roam,
And the sentence of the court is
That all your life your bunk will be
The best room in my humble
home"
The old soldier started, dumb, silent
as a statue;
Then in a voice trembling with
emotion said:
Judge, turn your head, so i can get
a look at you,
Your voice is like an echo from
the dead"
Then forward limped he, grimy