Parson Potter and his wife was wonderfully pleased with it; used to sing it to the tune o' Haddem. But I was gwine to tell the one I made in relation to husband; it begins as follers :— He never jawed in all his life, He never was onkind, And (tho' I say it that was his wife) Such men you seldom find. (That's as true as the Scripturs; I never knowed him to say a harsh word.) I never changed my single lot,- (though widder Jinkins says it's because I never had a chance.) Now 'tain't for me to say whether I ever had a numerous number o' chances or not, but there's them livin' that might tell if they wos a mind to; why, this poitry was writ on account of being joked about Major Coon, three year after husband died. I guess the ginerality o' folks knows what was the nature o' Major Coon's feelin's towards me, tho' his wife and Miss Jinkins does say I tried to ketch him. The fact is, Miss Coon feels wonderfully cut up 'cause she knows the Major took her "Jack at a pinch,"-seein' he couldent get such as he wanted, he took such as he could get,-but I goes on to say I never changed my single lot, I thought 'twould be a sin, For I thought so much o' Deacon Bedott. I never got married agin. If ever a hasty word he spoke, His anger dident last, But vanished like tobacker smoke Afore the wintry blast. And since it was my lot to be The wife of such a man, Tell the men that's after me If I was sick a single jot, That's a fact, he used to be scairt to death if anything ailed me. Now only jest think,-widder Jinkins told Sam Pendergrasses wife (she 'twas Sally Smith) that she guessed the deacon dident set no great store by me, or he wouldent a went off to confrence mectin' when I was down with the fever. The truth is, they couldent git Parson Potter seldom went along without him no way. to confrence meetin', and when he wa'n't there, who was ther' pray tell, that knowed enough to take the lead if husband dident do it? Deacon Kenipe hadent no gift, and Deacon Crosby hadent no inclination, and so it all come onto Deacon Bedott,-and he was always ready and willin' to do his duty, you know; as long as he was able to stand on his legs he continued to go to confrence meetin'; why, I've knowed that man to go when ho couldent scarcely crawl on account o' the pain in the spine of his back. He had a wonderful gift, and he wa'n't a man to keep his talents hid up in a napkin,-so you see But 'twas from a sense o' duty he went when I was sick, whatever Miss Jinkins may say to the contrary. where was I? Oh! If I was sick a single jot, He called the doctor in I sot so much store by Deacon Bedott A wonderful tender heart he had, It made him feel amazin' bad Whiskey and rum he tasted not— That's as true as the Scripturs.--but if you'll believe it, Betsy, Ann Kenipe told my Melissy that Miss Jinkins said one day to their house, how't she'd seen Deacon Be dott high, time and agin! did you ever! Well, I'm glad nobody don't pretend to mind anything she says. I've knowed Poll Bingham from a gal, and she never knowed how to speak the truth-besides she always had a per tikkeler spite against husband and me, and between us tew I'll tell you why if you won't mention it, for I make it a pint never to say nothin' to injure nobody. Well, she was a ravin'-distracted after my husband herself, but it's a long story, I'll tell you about it some other time, and then you'll know why widder Jinkins is etarnally runnin' me down. See,-where had I got to? Oh, I remember now, Whiskey and rum he tasted not, He thought it was a sin, I thought so much o' Deacon Bedott But now he's dead! the thought is killin', My grief I can't control He never left a single shillin' His widder to console. But that wa'n't his fault-he was so out o' health for a number o' year afore he died, it ain't to be wondered at he dident lay up nothin'-however, it dident give him no great oneasiness, he never cared much for airthly riches, though Miss Pendergrass says she heard Miss Jinkins say Deacon. Bedott was as tight as the skin on his back, -begrudged folks their vittals when they came to his house! did you ever! I ever see in all my born days. he was the hull-souldest man wny, as Bill Jinkins was, I'd hold my tongue about my neighIf I'd such a husband bors' husbands. He was a dretful mean man, used to git drunk every day of his life, and he had an awful high temper,-used to swear like all possests when he got mad, -and I've heard my husband say, (and he wa'n't a man that ever said anything that wa'n't true),-I've heard him say Bill Jinkins would cheat his own father out of his eye teeth if he had a chance. Where was I? "His widder to console,"-ther ain't but one more verse, 'tain't a very lengthy poim. When Parson Potter read it, he says to me, says he,-" What did you stop so soon for?"-but Miss Jinkins told the Crosby's she thought I'd better a' stopt afore I'd begun,-she's a purty critter to talk so, I must say. I'd like to see some poitry o' hern, I guess it would be astonishin' stuff; and mor'n all that, she said there wa'n't a word o' truth in the hull on't, said I never cared tuppence for the deacon. What an everlastin' lie!! Why, when he died, I took it so hard I went deranged, and took on so for a spell, they Oh! was afraid they should have to send me to a Lunattie Arsenal. But that's a painful subject, I won't dwell on't I conclude as follers: I'll never change my single lot,— I think 'twould be a sin, The inconsolable widder o' Deacon Bedott Don't intend to get married agin. Excuse my cryin'-my feelin's always overcomes me so when I say that poitry-O-0-0-0-0-0! F. M. Whitcher. CAOCH THE PIPER. ONE winter's day, long, long ago, Gray-headed, blind, and yellow,- Poor "Pinch" and Caoch O'Leary. And when he stowed away his "bag," And Fineen Burke and Shane Magee, Rushed in, with panting haste to "see," Oh! God be with those happy times, Poor Caoch and "Pinch" slept well that night, And in the morning early, He called me up to hear him play, "The wind that shakes the barley." And then he stroked my flaxen hair, And seasons came and went, and still And often when I walked and danced Well-twenty summers had gone past, His gait was slow and weary, Old Caoch! but ah! how woc-begone! The colors on his thread-bare "bag",- "God's blessing here," the wanderer cried, "Far, far, be hell's black viper; Does anybody hereabouts Remember Caoch the Piper?" With swelling heart I grasped his hand; The old man murmured "deary! Are you the silky-headed child, That lov'd poor Caoch O'Leary ?" "Yes, yes," I said-the wanderer wept As if his heart was breaking, "And where a vhic machree," he sobbed, "Is all the merry making I found here twenty years ago?"- *Son of my heart. |