The St. Johns herald., 1922-04-20
NEVER ACCUSE A MAN
BY T. J. NEAL.


 Brown had to keep an eye on Jones
 For Fear he would go astray.
 Jones had not lived there very long,
 His past life no one knew,
 And for Brown to get the Jones' placed It put him in stew.
 Brown wanted to unload on his nearest
 friend,
 He called him up on the phone;
 Say you know that man, that MT.
 Jones,
 He is never away from home. He seems so downcast and so sad. His life, it seems so drear.
 Some people say he killed man Before he moved down here." My wife, she heard them tell that tale, It almost took her breath. And then Sal Perkins told about He had beat his wife to death. Some said he would lie and steal, How trashy he is. Oh my! Till they all run down like an alarm
 clock
 Then began to breathe and sigh. I haven't seen Jones for day or two Said Brown to his wife one day, Suppose drop over and see the old cub Perhaps he has run away. Brown went to see Jones for curiosity
 sake,
 But when he reached that home Brown knocked on the door and listened He could hear only groan. He pushed the door open, looked inside, Back in the corner on a bed Lay a man with burning fever. And bandaged, aching head. Three small ragged urchins Starving and only half clad. The sight would melt heart of stone When i gazed upon what they had 1 took the sufferers hand, He gazed on me for a while. Is there any thing can do I said, He turned to me and smiled, All the help you could lend me is past, My time is near at hand. Care for my babies, they are all I have In this world at my command. Before you start on your farewell trip Please relate to me your life, Well once was happy nobleman' sen And married a handsome wife. My father was rich, he had land and gold And lived in a mansion tall, He mortgaged it all to protect his name And the fact is he lost it all. The burden was more than he could bear He went sorrowing to the grave. He gave it all and his life instead The honor of his friends to save. So was thrown out on the world alone It was hard, God knows.I tried, Till misfortune entered my humble
 home .. ~, And took my darling bride. Since then my life has been dull and sad The world has turned me down, And no one seemed to care for me Until you came Mr. Brown. I have tried to live right and do my bit, Though the world is hard and cold But beyond the cold dark valley of death There is justice we are told So he turned his face ward the wall, While he softly murmured a prayer, Goodbye MT. Brown, I am going now. They have called me over there, Give my best regard to all your friends When they ask what I did say. He folded his hands across his breast. And quietly passed away. We followed him to the old church yard And laid his body down, He was not a thief as some had said, He was one who had worn a crown. Jones murdered a man. No he was toe
 pure To harm any man in town, lis life was an example to us all Was the message of MT. Brown. Now friends take warning from the
 story told, And do not accuse any man. Perhaps your neighbor has some faults But is doing the best he can. )h, please do help him to overcome And never crush him down your neighbor may be Mir.
 Jones And yourself Mr. Brown
 IT