The Washington herald., 1914-04-05

ABE" said Mrs. Pease when I had
finished the poem and read IL to her. 81
once traded twenty pounds of butter for
book Of poetry written by a feller
named Byron. Did you ever meet him.
'He cheerfully died before was born. "
Good thing he did. I was going TO
write him that he wasn't knee high as a
poet compared to you. Going to stop at
the widow Barton's as you go along?
Nothing for her"
"But she'll call you in. Her sister
down South is dead, and she'll sure want
a poem
Mrs. Pease was right As / was driving
past the widows she called to me from
the front steps and had to go in. As
soon as she could control her tears she
told me of the tragedy, and ] was not
long in putting it into verse, as follows
Should any one attempt TO sing ii he
should give a mournful tone to his voice
and not be in too much hurry to reach
the last verse. I do not refund the price
IL my poetry fails to please, but l want
it TO have a fair show:
Widow Barton had a sister who lived in Tennessee.
She a widow also and her name vas McAdCo.
Her hubby he bitten hy serIsnt the knee
And though he was a Democrat his soul it upward
few.
Mrs McAdoo wore mourmnsi her tears did often
She had to cut the wood and milk thr CIV:
She had to feed the pigs and do the chores al
And twas hard upon a woman you will cheedully
allow.
shed had three years of widoWhOOd. and tired Of
the Job.
She thought she'd better many and get change
Of luck. -
There was a man who came to court; his name was
Robert Robb.
He wasn't quite sander and he wasn't quite a
duck.
He hadnt many dollars. but he had winning
He hadn't any beauty. but he could talk Of love
He was a horse for plOWins and a-plAntinG of the
And she was badly wanted for his own true turtls
dove.
He walked upon the railroad track, and he did
make a find.
1t wasn't gOod to cat and he didn't take a bite:
He thought it might be diamonds or snmething Of
the kind.
Arriving at the widows. the box VAS held to view
And she and got the hammer. that they might
investigate.
He placed it on the floor. and he whaoked it with
'WhCw"
And my tears they are a-faIHng as the rest l do
relate.
1T was .daned torpedo. and was loaded up for
bear,
And when the hammer struck it. of course. 1t did
explode:
And die widow and her lover were fragments in
the air.
And the fragments to a better land they were
most quickly blOTed-
ABE, do y, think s.Ie suffered much .
asked the wido's when the poem had
been read.
mot in the least"
But il she was blowed to fragments
how could she become an angel?'
Dunno. widow. / carry the United
States mail and write poetry on demand"
Would her last thought be of me?"
Hardly. She probably thought what
4 fool Mr., Robb was to bring that tor
pedo into the house"
YES. I suppose so. but l am going to
try and let your poem bring me comfort
Indeed, feel better already"
And down at the red bridge the black
smith called me in and l had to write
fol- him:
The father Of John Collins, he
Went out the CONS 20 feed.
And when an hour had passed away
His absence they did heed.
GO quickly to the barn. ny John,
John Collins wife she said
And John he got a move on him,
To ind his father dead.
COW had kicked him in the side.
And another in the back:
mule had seen the fun. and be
Had given him q Whack.
Yes he was dead and gone 10 rest.
Upon his face a smile:
We know he's gone where golden harTs
The angels time beguile!