Year: 1875

Give us your hand, Mr.. Lawyer; how do you do to-
day?
You drew up that papcr-I spcse you want your pay
Don't cut down your figures; make it an y or q V;
For that ere written agreement was just the maxim of

Coin home that evenin' tell you was blue,
Thnkin' of IL my troubles and what was goin' to
do;
And if my HOSES hadn't been the steadiestteam alive
They'd 've4ipped me over certain, for couldn't see
where to drive.
No-for was labOrin under heavy load
NO-for was travelin' an entirely different road;
For was atracin' the path of our lives agin,
And seein' where missed the way, and where we
might have been.
And many a corner we d turned that just to quarrel
led,
When l ought to We held my temper and driven
straight ahead;
And the more thought it over these more the memo
ries came,
And the more struck the opinion that the most
TO blame.
And things I had long forgotten kept riSin' i'll my
mind,
oflitc matters betwixt u.s. where Betsy good and
kind
And these things they flashed ell through me, you
know things sometimes will,
When felcrs alone in the darkness, and everything
is still.
But" says I, we're too far along to take another
track,
And when put my hand to the plow do not often
turn back
And 'taint uncommon thing now for couples to
smash in two:"
And 50 l set my teeth together, and vowed I'd see it
through.
When l come in sight o the house twas someat in
the night.
And just turned hilltop see the kitchen light
Which often han'some pictur to Il hungry person
But it don't interest fellow much that's goin to pull
up stakes.
And when went ill the house the table was set for
As good supper as ever saw or ever want to see;
And 1 crammed the agreement down my pocket as
we'll as could,
And fell to eatn' my victuals which somehow didn't
taste good.
And Betsy she pretended to look about the house,
But she watched my side coat pocket like a would
watch a mouse;
And then she went to foolin' little with her cup,
And intently readin newspaper a-holdin' it wrong
side up
And when I'd done my supper I drawcd the agree
ment out
And give it to her without word for she knowct
what twas about;
And then hummed little tune, but and ther
note
Was busted by some animal that hoped mp in m!
throat.
Then Betsy she got her specs from off the mantel
shelf
And read the article over quite softly to herself;
Read it little by little for her eyes gcttin old
And lawyers writin amt print, especially whel
its cold
And after she'd read little She give my touch
And kindly said She afraid was 'lowin her to


much
But when she through She went for me- her fac
astreamin with tears,
And kissed me for the first time in over twenty years
don't know what you'll think, sr-I didn't come


inquire
But picked up that agreement and stuffed it in tn


fire;
And told her we'd bury the hatchet alongside of til
And we struck an agreement never to have anoth,


row.


And told her in the future wouldn't speak cross


rash


If half the crockery in the house was broken all
And she said in regards TO heaven we'd try and leaI


its worth,
By startin a branch establishment, and runnin


here on earth
And 50 we a-talkin threequarters of the night,
And opened our hearts 10 each other until they bo


grew light;
And the days when winnin' her away from


many
Was nothin' to that evenin courted her over agai
Next mornin' an ancient virgin took pains to call


us,


Her lamp all trimmed and Albumin to kindle anoth


fuss;


But when she went to pryin and opcnin Of old s0r
Ny Betsy rose politely, and showed her out-of-doo
Since then ! don't deny there's been word or two
But we've got our eyes wide open, and know just wi


tOdO;


When one speaks cross the other just meets it with


laugh,


And the first ready to give up considerable nC


than half


Maybe youn think soft sir atalkin in this style
But somehow it does me lots Of good to tell it once


while


And do it for a compliment-'tis so that You can
That that there written agreement Of yours j


the maxim ofme.
So make out your BILL Mr.. Lawyer don't stop short


anX;


Make il more If you want TO- for have got the chec
I'm richer than a national bank, with all its treasIl


told


For I've got a wife at home now that's worth


weight in gold


There is no doubt that the idea will "tak