Year: 1871

ny WILL NJ CARLETON.
Draw mp the papers. lawyer, make 'em good and
For things at home are crossways, and Betsey and
We, who have worked together so long as man and
Must pull in single harness for the rest Of our nat raj


life.


what is the matter ~ sayyo swan it's hard to
Most Of the years behind us we've passed by very
have no other woman. she has no other man
Only we've lived together as long as we ever can.
So have talked with Betsey and Betsey has talked


with me.


And 50 we've agreed together that we can'tnever


agree;


Not that we've catched each other in any terrible
We've been a-gathering this for years. little at


time.


There was a stock CT temper we both had for start
Although we never suspected twould take us two


had my various failings bred in the flesh and bone
And Betsey like lgood women had temper of her
The first thing remember whereOn we disagreed
Was something concerning heaven-a difference in


creed;


We arg'ed the thing at breakfast. we arg cd the
And the more we arg ed the question the more we


didn agree.


And the next that remember was when we lost a
She had kicked the bucket for certain, the question


was only-How?
held my own opinion. and Betsey another had;
And when we were done a-talkin', we both of us


mad


And the next that remember, it started in joke
But full for week lasted, and neither Of US spoke
And next was when | scolded because she broke
And she said was mean and stingy and hadn't any


soul.


And that bowl kept pourin dissensions in cup
And so that blamed cow-critter was always a-comin
And so that heaven we arg ed no nearer to us got
But it gave us taste of sOmethin thousand times


as hot


And so the thing kept workin and all the selfsame
Always somethin' to arg e, and somethin' sharp to
And down on uscame the neghbors a couple dozen
And lent their kindes service for to help the thing


along


And there has been days together-and many weary
View as both of us cross and spunky, and both too
And have been thinkin' and thinkin' the whole of


the winter and fall.
at all.


And so have talked with Betsey, and Betsey has
And we have agreed together that we can't never


agree;


And what is hers shall be hers, and what is mine
And iii put it in the agreement and take it to her to


sign.


Write on the paper, lawyer-the very first para
OF ali the farm and livestock that she shall h>ve
For she has helped to earn it, through many weary
And its nothin more than justice that Betsey has
her pay


Give her the house and homestead-man can thrive
But women are skeery critters, unless they havea
And / have always determined and never failed to
That Betsey never should want home if was taken
away.


There is a little hard money that's DRAWN tol'rable
couple of hundred dollars laid by for a rainy day;
State in the hands good men, and easy to get
Put in another clause there, and give her half ofhat
Yes see you smile Sir, at my givin' her SO much;
Yes. divorce is cheap Sir, but take no stock in
True and fair married her, when she was blithe and
And Betsey was always good to me, exceptin, with
her tongue.


Once, when was young as you. and not so smart
For me She mittened lawyer, and several other
And ali Of them were austered and fairly taken
And fora time was counted the luekiest man in
town.


Once when had fever-I won t forgeti it soon
was hot as a basted turkey and crazy as loon;
Never an hour went by me when she was out OF
sight
She nursed me true and tender and stuck to me day
] and night.


And if ever house tidy, and ever kitchen
clean,


Her house and kitchen was tidy as any ever ;
And don't compla in of Betsey, or any Of her acts
Exceptin when we've quarreled, and told each 9TH
facts.


So draw up the paper, lawyer and I'll go home to-
night,


And read the agreement to her and see if it's all
right


And then in the mornin' I'll sell to tradin' man
know,


And kiss the child that left us, and out into
| the world I'll go.


And one thing put in the paper that first to me did
MT occur
That when am dead at last she'll bring me back to
her;
And lay me under the naples planted years ago,
When she and was happy before we quarreed so.
And when she dies wish that she would be laid by
me.


And iyn together in silence perhaps we will agree
And. if ever meet in heaven, wouldn't think 1t
queer


If we loved each other better because have quar-
| relied here.