Farm Ballads

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Farm Ballads, by Will Carleton
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Title: Farm Ballads
Author: Will Carleton
Release Date: December, 2005 [EBook #9500]?[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]?[This file was first posted on October 6, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
? START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FARM BALLADS ***
Produced by David Widger
FARM BALLADS
By Will Carleton
PREFACE.
These poems have been written under various, and, in some cases, difficult, conditions: in the open air, "with team afield;" in the student's den, with the ghosts of unfinished lessons hovering gloomily about; amid the rush and roar of railroad travel, which trains of thought are not prone to follow; and in the editor's sanctum, where the dainty feet of the Muses do not often deign to tread.
Crude and unfinished as they are, the author has yet had the assurance to publish them, from time to time, in different periodicals, in which, it is but just to admit, they have been met by the people with unexpected favor. While his judgment has often failed to endorse the kind words spoken for them, he has naturally not felt it in his heart to file any remonstrances.
He has been asked, by friends in all parts of the country, to put his poems into a more durable form than they have hitherto possessed; and it is in accordance with these requests that he now presents "Farm Ballads" to the public.
Of course he does not expect to escape, what he needs so greatly, the discipline of severe criticism; for he is aware that he has often wandered out of the beaten track, and has many times been too regardless of the established rules of rhythm, in his (oftentimes vain) search for the flowers of poesy.
But he believes that The People are, after all, the true critics, and will soon ascertain whether there are more good than poor things in a book; and whatever may be their verdict in this case, he has made up his mind to be happy.?W. C.
CONTENTS.
FARM BALLADS.?_Betsey and I Are Out.?How Betsey and I Made Up.?Gone with a Handsomer Man.?Johnny Rich.?Out of the Old House, Nancy.?Over the Hill to the Poor-House.?Over the Hill from the Poor-House.?Uncle Sammy.?Tom was Goin' for a Poet.?Goin' Home To-Day.?Out o' the Fire._
OTHER POEMS.?_The New Church Organ.?The Editor's Guests.?The House where We were Wed.?Our Army of the Dead.?Apple-Blossoms.?Apples Growing.?One and Two.?The Fading Flower.?Autumn Days.?Death-Doomed.?Up the Line.?How we Kept the Day._
ILLUSTRATIONS.
_"Draw up the Papers, Lawyer, and make 'em good and stout"?"Give us your Hand, Mr. Lawyer: How do you do To-day?"?"And just as I turned a Hill-top I see the Kitchen Light"?"And intently readin' a Newspaper, a-holdin' it wrong side up" "And Kissed me for the first Time in over Twenty Years"?"My Betsey rose politely, and showed her out-of-doors"?"Curse her! curse her! say I; she'll some Time rue this Day" "Why, John, what a Litter here! you've thrown Things all around!" "'Tis a hairy sort of Night for a Man to face and fight"?"When you walked with her on Sunday, looking sober, straight, and clean" "And you lie there, quite resigned, Whisky deaf and Whisky blind" "And bid the Old House good-bye"?"Settlers come to see that Show a half a dozen Miles"?"Right in there the Preacher, with Bible and Hymn-book, stood" "Over the Hill to the Poor-House, I'm trudgin' my weary Way" "Till at last he went a-courtin', and brought a Wife from Town" "Many a Night I've watched You when only God was nigh"?"Who sat with him long at his Table, and explained to him where he stood"_
FARM BALLADS.
BETSEY AND I ARE OUT.
Draw up the papers, lawyer, and make 'em good and stout;?For things at home are crossways, and Betsey and I are out. We, who have worked together so long as man and wife,?Must pull in single harness for the rest of our nat'ral life.
"What is the matter?" say you. I swan it's hard to tell!?Most of the years behind us we've passed by very well;?I have no other woman, she has no other