FEW TOEMS 
 
 1^ 
 
 1 ! 
 
 C COUNTRYMAN 
 
 Good Seme- 
 
 iceriSi 
 
 nioiisease 
 
 mp 
 
m .' 
 
 itffBwmit«im«imKmi<! 
 
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 Chap.:....^- Copyright No. 
 
 ^: Mra^ 
 
 UNITED STATES t)F AMERICA. 
 
2nd COPY, 
 1898^ 
 
 COPYRIGHT 
 
 CARL C. COUNTRYMAN, 
 
 1898. 
 
 v;; copies RECEIViu' 
 t DECS -1838 J 
 
 (o'^^M-\ 
 
 vAra\J vVU -^l*?* 
 
THREE SENSES. 
 
 A FEW POEMS 
 
 BY 
 
 CARL dr COUNTRYMAN. 
 
 Part I— GOOD SENSE. 
 
 Part II— INCENSE. 
 
 Part III-NONSENSE. 
 
 PRESS OF BRINK & MASON, 
 
 393 STATE STREET, 
 NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 
CONTENTS. ^^ 
 
 ' 1^9^ 
 
 Part I-GOOD SENSE. 
 
 I HAIN'T GOT NO HOME, 7 
 
 Sold AN' Gone, 12 
 
 THE WORK OF GOD, • '^ 
 
 Ode THREE, 19 
 
 NEW YEAR'S RESOLVES, 20 
 
 A HYMN, 20 
 
 Part II— INCENSE. 
 
 BABY MINE, 25 
 
 A BURIED LOVE, 27 
 
 AMOROSA CARMINA COLLEGIALIA, 29 
 
 ODE TO ZETECALIAN, 32 
 
 A DREAM, 35 
 
 A Valentine, 37 
 
 Part III— NONSENSE. 
 
 Ethel May, 41 
 
 Ode to Linden, 47 
 
 "IN IT," 48 
 
 ALL OF WHICH IS DEDICATED TOMYJRIENDS— THE PEOPLE. 
 
I HAIN'T GOT NO HOME. 
 
 I'm trav'lin' up and down 
 Through city an' through town, 
 I'm wandrin' here an' there 
 Like a soul that doesn't care 
 Where it's goin' ; 
 I'm hired out to travel 
 Fer my readin' an' recitin' 
 But where I'll be a-goin' 
 After readin' all my writin' 
 I'm not knowin', 
 Fer I 
 
 hain't got 
 
 no home. 
 
 The cyars ar' big an' fine 
 On the finest kind o' line, 
 The enjin's tough an' strong 
 To carry us along 
 To where we're pintin'; 
 The cars are fixed for sleepin' 
 A-runnin' easy, swift an' light, 
 Their rollin' an' their rockin' 
 Make 'em of all earth's things jest right 
 To spend the night in 
 To the feller ez 
 hain't got 
 
 no home. 
 
 I see along the road 
 The farmers on a load 
 Of straw er hay er grain, 
 An' then I see again 
 Children playin'; 
 
I see the winders lighted, 
 Sometimes, when passin' in the night, 
 'N'l wonder if the children 
 A-kneelin' by the bright home light 
 Think of prayin' 
 Fur fellers ez 
 hain't got 
 
 no home. 
 
 I see the medders green, 
 
 The hosses slick an' clean, 
 
 An' mules an' pigs an' sheep, 
 
 'N'its mighty hard to keep 
 
 From cryin' 
 
 To see the colts a-jumpin' 
 
 An' the winter wheat a-wavin' 
 
 As if it had been thinkin' 
 
 An' its waves fur me ben savin' ; 
 
 It's tryin' 
 
 To a feller ez 
 
 hain't got 
 
 no home. 
 
 'N'l wanter get off there 
 An' hop inter a pair 
 O' boots an' jump an' run 
 An' hev a pile o' fun 
 An' foller 
 
 The cows home from the pascher 
 An' feed the pigs and sheep an' hosses, 
 Applause an' all hands clappin' 
 An' even gains ten times the losses 
 Ar' holler 
 To the feller ez 
 hain't got 
 
 no home. 
 
I wanter go each day 
 An' dally 'long the way 
 From school, an' fear at home 
 Thet there'll be sure to come 
 A spankin' ; 
 
 An' chase the turkey gobblers 
 An' own an' name the chickins, 
 Not in my heart a-thinkin' 
 Of feelin' like the dickins 
 Nor rankin' 
 With fellers ez 
 hain't got 
 
 no home. 
 
 I wanter go an' play 
 
 An' mow the hay away 
 
 An' carry grain in sacks 
 
 An' pitch the wheat an' flax 
 
 'N'oats an' clover ; 
 
 An' sit at home of evenin's 
 
 Eatin' corn an' nuts an' tellin' 
 
 Old stories, but all them things— 
 
 Playin', crackin' jokes an' yellin' 
 
 Is all over 
 
 'N'l 
 
 hain't got 
 
 no home. 
 
 The hotels where I eat 
 Are neatest kind o' neat 
 With gas an' steam an' things, 
 An' elevator brings 
 You a- sudden 
 
 To any floor you're wan tin' ; 
 Waiters too at meals an' plenty 
 Of grub in thirteen courses, 
 
Pies an' cakes an' more than twenty 
 Kinds o' puddin' 
 To tempt the feller ez 
 hain't got 
 
 no home. 
 
 But what's the use o' food 
 
 No matter how so good 
 
 When you don't never feel 
 
 A-hungrin' for a meal 
 
 O' your vittles ; 
 
 I wanter stop this livin', 
 
 Go back home an' hunt the cellar 
 
 Fur pies an' be a-havin' 
 
 Bowls o' soup hot for each feller 
 
 From the kittles ; 
 
 'Twould seem good to the feller ez 
 
 hain't got 
 
 no home. 
 
 An' when I'm old an' gray, 
 My life all gone away 
 An', sick with many ills. 
 Money gone for doctors' bills — 
 Me a-dyin' — 
 
 My frends will raise me money 
 Fur a place fur me to sleep in ; 
 They'll ask "Where's he a-livin'?" 
 An' I'll hear some one a-weepin' 
 An' replyin' 
 
 He 
 
 hain't got 
 
 no home. 
 
 But when I'm dead an' gone 
 An' w hen I wake up on 
 A better, brighter shore. 
 
 10 
 
Where death can be no more, 
 
 I'll be a-seein' 
 
 My mother's robe the whitest 
 
 An' I'll hear her softly sayin' 
 
 In tones the very sweetest, 
 
 I've ben watchin', too, an' prayin' 
 
 Fur you bein' 
 
 My boy thet 
 
 didn't hev 
 
 no home. 
 
 Yes, when my knell is rung 
 An' when my dirge is sung 
 'N' I'm lyin' in the ground, 
 With dead folks all around 
 Me a-moldin', 
 
 My frends will raise me money- 
 Folks will quickly stop their fightin'— 
 An' build a modest tombstone, 
 On it they will be a-writin' 
 This is holdin' 
 A feller thet 
 
 didn't hev 
 
 no home. 
 
 But he was good an' treu 
 An' honest all way through, 
 We're sure thet he will stand 
 Where, in a better land, 
 Skies is meller ; 
 
 Fur he was surely worthy them things 
 An' so we'll stop our weepin' 
 A-trustin' thet our former comrade 
 Who's now so sweetly sleepin' 
 Is a feller 
 Thet hez gone 
 to his 
 
 best home. 
 
 11 
 
50LD AN* GONE. 
 
 Sometimes when a feller, dad, 
 
 Is trav'lin' all aroun' 
 An' only stoppin' fur a day 
 
 Or so in any town, 
 Without a home where he can go, 
 Without home joys fur him to know ; 
 
 With strangers all aroun' him, dad. 
 
 An' tho' they're kind enuff 
 They can't be jest what old frends is 
 
 Whose frendship's tried and tuff, 
 Who've known fur years him and his kin, 
 An' stood by them through thick an' thin. 
 
 Ah ! when a feller's thus ways, dad, 
 
 The queerest feelin' creeps 
 Right up his back, sometimes, an' down. 
 
 An' then his old heart leaps 
 Up in his throat an' achin' comes 
 At seein' others in their homes. 
 
 It seems as if — if he could see 
 
 The old homestead again 
 An' wander 'round among the spots 
 
 In which he hasn't ben 
 Fur Years, 'twould ease him of his pain 
 Ef he could see them sights again. 
 
 Fur there is always places, dad, 
 
 A feller wants to see. 
 May be a spring, may be a hill. 
 
 May be an old oak tree, 
 May be a place where he has played, 
 May be a grave in quiet shade. 
 
 12 
 
I've wisht to see the old home, dad, 
 
 Fur many a long, long day, 
 An' thought of places on an' roun' 
 
 The farm so far away — 
 I've wisht to see the sights again 
 That I recall to mind so plain. 
 
 I've wisht to walk along the road 
 
 From town, an' think of what 
 Adventures fur us little kids 
 
 Had happened at each spot— 
 The swimmin' pools, the creek, the bridge, 
 The bluffs, the road along the ridge, 
 
 The fishin' places, rocks an' run— 
 
 The wat'rin' place— an' stand 
 An' think of what took place there 
 
 When it was on our land, 
 An' 'cross the gully in the trees — 
 Tall oaks a-swayin' in the breeze — 
 
 You jest kin see the old home, dad, 
 
 An' I have thought so much 
 Thet when I got to that place, dad, 
 
 I'd stop an' let old thoughts an' such 
 Of childhood's times run through my head, 
 Mem'ries all of hours that's sped. 
 
 I've thought of how I'd wander roun' 
 
 An' stop along the way ; 
 Why, here I fisht an' here I swum 
 
 An' here I used to play 
 An' here I killed an old muskrat, 
 
 Here I did this, here I did that. 
 
 13 
 
An' here's the cow paths in the woods, 
 
 Known but to Roll an' me, 
 An' here's the spring an' here's plum grove 
 
 An' here's the but'nut tree 
 An' here's the broad, flat roun' 
 That used to be our circus groun'. 
 
 I can't begin to tell you, dad, 
 
 The thoughts that cum to me — 
 What nooks an' paths an' dells an' groves 
 
 'Twould gladden me to see — 
 A thousand fancies swum before my eyes, 
 A thousand mem'ries such as never dies. 
 
 A thousand thoughts run through my head 
 
 Of what I'd do an' say, 
 Of where I'd go and when and how 
 
 When I should chance to stay 
 Aroun' the old farm that I was brought up on, 
 The dear old home of ourn that's sold an' gone. 
 
 I've been to see the old home, dad ; 
 
 When I stepped off the train 
 'Twas afternoon an' I was ast to stop 
 
 In town time an' again. 
 But though they tried with all their mio;ht, 
 I'll see the dear old home to-night. 
 
 An' then I walked along the road 
 
 An' saw the places where 
 I spoke of, but they ain't the same 
 
 As when us folks was there ; 
 They ain't the same an' yet they be. 
 They don't seem quite the same to me. 
 
 14 
 
The bridge is moved four rods up stream, 
 
 The walnut tree's cut down — 
 The biggest, tallest tree it was 
 
 In all the country roun' — 
 An' Hamlin's run, where water flowed so cool 
 A-gurglin' down the rocks and made a pool 
 
 Eight in the road, is filled up now, 
 
 A shute's put in, an' then 
 Right up the gully in plain sight 
 
 You see a slaughter pen 
 An' house, an' what was once wild-flower beds 
 Is strewed with cattle legs an' horns an' heads ; 
 
 The wat'rin' place ain't used no more. 
 
 An' where we used to pick 
 Our hazel nuts is cleared off now, 
 
 An' where they were so thick 
 Corn an' pertaters grow, an' here I stand. 
 But can't jest make it seem like our land. 
 
 The house an' barn are much the same- 
 Some trees are cut away. 
 
 The spring's dried out, the paths grown up. 
 But look what side I may 
 
 I can't see much of any change — 
 
 An' yet it's strange — it's all so strange. 
 
 The barn is there, though painted brown, 
 
 The house has got a stoop 
 Aroun' the south side now. I can't 
 
 Tell why my spirits droop, 
 An' yet they do ; I'm not to blame — 
 The same— the same — yet not the same. 
 
 15 
 
I climb the hill an' wander off 
 
 The way we went to school, 
 An' grit my teeth an' stop my tears — 
 
 Don't say, dad, I'm a fool — 
 It ain't the old home I've ben on ; 
 The old home's sold— yes, sold an' gone. 
 
 Yes, sold an' gone, an' dead an' gone, 
 
 An' all I've left is thoughts 
 An' names an' mem'ries dear an' sweet 
 
 About all previous spots. 
 It ain't the old home I've ben on, 
 The old home's sold — yes, sold an' gone. 
 
 16 
 
THE WORK OF GOD. 
 
 Ah, how illustrious is he 
 Who, in the face of destiny, 
 
 Pursues an upright course ; 
 Who boldly throttles fate's decree, 
 And makes an opportunity 
 
 What others make a curse. 
 
 Who sorely is with choler pent — 
 Mayhap with baser passions rent — 
 
 And fiery, untamed mood ; 
 Yet curbs his fury till 'tis spent, 
 And turns his soul's unworthy bent 
 
 To work his noblest good. 
 
 Or who, though poor and lowly born. 
 Exposed to cursed, unrighteous scorn 
 
 Of all the world beside, 
 In no wise deems himself forlorn, 
 But bravely makes his feelings, torn, 
 
 Expel unholy, godless pride. 
 
 Or he, who sprung from those untaught— 
 Almost without the gift of thought — 
 
 Becomes a learned man ; 
 And, when the noble fight is fought. 
 Enjoys the boon that toil hath bought 
 
 In earth's most cultured clan. 
 
 Or he who, born to vice and crime, 
 In lowest depths of moral slime. 
 
 And like the earthy clod, 
 Relieves himself of grievous grime. 
 And learns, in acts and thoughts sublime, 
 
 To honor Christ and God. 
 
 17 
 
He who has all this duty done 
 Makes, with his course so nobly run. 
 
 The world to understand 
 With self-control— a virtue won— 
 Of all the creatures 'neath His sun 
 
 God's greatest work is man. 
 
 18 
 
ODE THREE. 
 
 Were I to choose, dear Berta, a husband for you, 
 I'd seek a man brave, tender, devoted and true. 
 'Twould not be 'mid proud fashion's bold pomp and vain 
 
 blare. 
 Nor yet 'mid wealth's gay, showy enticements and glare; 
 Nay, nay. I would not seek for position or pride 
 Or wealth or power or title for you as a bride. 
 For what are all these for a soul to live on? 
 A flame— nay, flash— nay, twinkle— and then they are 
 
 gone. 
 What are all these and travel and palace and dome 
 Beside the sweet, calm joy of a dear little home ? 
 Nay, not a Croesus, nobleman, nor other than 
 An earnest, honest, loving— yes. God-fearing man. 
 To bring you peace, contentment, and happiness, too, 
 I'd seek if I were choosing a husband for you. 
 
 19 
 
NEW YEAR'S RESOLVES. 
 
 The old year now ends, 
 The new one begins ; 
 
 Man vows swift amends 
 For last year's sad sins. 
 
 But the years pass by 
 With no seemly token, 
 
 And vows e'er so high 
 Are made to be broken. 
 
 A HYMN. 
 
 Oh, heavenly source of light and love— 
 
 Thou spirit most divine- 
 Pervade my spirit from above, 
 
 And make thine essence mine. 
 
 Oh, do I leave stern virtue's path, 
 Or faith or wisdom lack ? 
 
 Ne'er give thou way to grievous wrath- 
 Do thou, Love, bring me back. 
 
 And do I fall or ^o astray, 
 
 I may not ask, "Relent" ; 
 Thou, Justice, wilt assume thy sway 
 
 Until I may repent. 
 
 Thus, God of earth and heaven, reign 
 
 In justice as in love. 
 And banish from the world all pain, 
 
 All sin and shame remove. 
 
 20 
 
Part II-INCENSE. 
 
BABY niNE. 
 
 Bit of sunshine, 
 
 Sky-blue-eyed, 
 Sent from heaven 
 
 To my side, 
 With us mortals 
 
 To abide— 
 Mamma's darling, 
 
 Papa's pride- 
 Baby mine. 
 
 Fairest beauty 
 
 Ever spied, 
 Far surpassing 
 
 All beside ; 
 Take papa's knee 
 
 For a ride ; 
 Here and there and 
 
 Yon we glide — 
 Baby mine. 
 
 Bit of sweetness, 
 
 Golden hair ; 
 Baby-like face. 
 
 Ah ! so fair ; 
 No otlier one 
 
 Anywhere, 
 Howe'er sweet. 
 
 Can compare- 
 Baby mine. 
 
 25 
 
Dimpled darling— 
 
 Oh, how rare — 
 Catching people 
 
 Like a snare ; 
 Tiny object 
 
 Of our care, 
 And none the less 
 
 Of our prayer- 
 Baby mine. 
 
 How we love thee 
 
 None can tell ; 
 None can feel but 
 
 Hearts that swell 
 Like unto ours, 
 
 And as well 
 In whose own homes 
 
 Babies dwell— 
 Baby mine. 
 
 Could we lose thee ? 
 
 Nay, not so ! 
 Shouldst thou leave us 
 
 We must go ; 
 To maturity 
 
 Wilt thou grow, 
 Bearing that love 
 
 None can know- 
 Baby mine. 
 
 26 
 
A BURIED LOVE. 
 
 You've told me, love, "Good-bye," 
 You have not told me why ; 
 
 I cannot leave you yet ; 
 But yesterday I hoped to-day 
 
 Our vv edding day to set. 
 
 Butj yesterday your smile of love 
 Raised me to heaven above 
 
 From out the sordid haunts of men ; 
 Do not to-day send me away ; 
 
 Nay, love, but smile again. 
 
 Those eyes, so deep and blue, 
 Have read my love for you 
 
 No words of mine could tell ; 
 Oh, can it be that ne'er on me 
 
 Those eyes in love shall dwell ? 
 
 Those arms, so soft and white, 
 Have clasped this neck, love, tight ; 
 
 Those lips 'gainst mine have oft been pressed. 
 This heart so true that beats for you 
 
 Has felt yours answer at my breast. 
 
 Will ne'er those arms by me be felt ? 
 Will ne'er those lips to kisses melt? 
 
 Your heart an answer give 
 To my heart beat ? My love ! my sweet ! 
 
 Bid my fond hopes to live. 
 
 Nay? Then my hopes are vain, 
 My life is doomed to pain ; 
 
 Farewell ! if we must part. 
 The love so rare for you I bear, 
 
 I'll bury in my heart. 
 
 27 
 
No stone shall mark its resting place, 
 No time its scar can e'er efface ; 
 
 But in its heart-tomb where 
 No mortal eye aught can descry, 
 
 My buried love is there. 
 
 28 
 
AnOROSA CARfllNA COLLEQIALIA. 
 
 (COLLEGE LOVE SONGS.) 
 
 THE PREP, 
 
 Lessons are hard, 
 
 Dances are few, 
 Honey is sweet, 
 
 So, too, are you. 
 
 THE FRESHHAN. 
 
 Now let me dream, do let me dream. 
 
 Of days so short ago 
 When you went out to parties there. 
 
 And I went, too — your beau ! 
 
 But now I'm here ; I've got a girl ; 
 
 Yet often long for home. 
 And when we have vacation, dear. 
 
 To your sweet arms I'll come. 
 
 THE SOPHOnORE. 
 
 There's the sweetest girl in our town 
 
 That I have ever seen. 
 Her eyes are like two diamonds. 
 
 Her face fair to be seen. 
 
 I long to see her often, now. 
 And in the night I dream 
 
 Of how I've always gazed upon 
 That brow of purest cream. 
 
 And when I'm through at college. 
 And clasp her form once more, 
 
 I'll taste those sweetest roses 
 In the "kiss behind the door." 
 
 29 
 
1 til .IIMOJ^. 
 
 Now whon Tin otT at oi>Uoj;t> 
 
 I iuw ihu\kit\ij v>fi of ih^> : 
 Sh.v. whon you hi^ »t (ho di^b j>An 
 
 l>o yovi ovor think of me ? 
 
 1 »n\ louoly. JuUii, darlings 
 Knowinjj i\ot what I may do; 
 
 You. and you alotio. rx^Uovo tuo. 
 Wriio and say you'rx* louoly, tvxv 
 
 Uow rho n\vH>n* «rt^ ?i^lo\v in changing. 
 How tho da>'$ liko a^^ tly : 
 
 l^ut \vv»>ti\l can think Ivforehand 
 lUl cv>mo home by and hy. 
 
 Uy and hy we'll walk t\>gtHher. 
 
 A;* we \e done j'o oft In^forr^ : 
 l^y and by you, little swtvt heart, 
 
 ^hall l>e minefv^nnor monv 
 
 l^Y no \,«4in d^wi^ion 
 
 i>f memal vvt>?ev>iion, 
 Whioh, by the way, is known, 
 
 I havx^ rv^^ehed the e\>neeption 
 
 Of n\y jv\vful rx\*eptiv>n 
 When to your arms Tve tU^wn. 
 
 This joyU^ss exteitsion 
 Grow^ inso ^usv^msion 
 M.^Xirv5: one v>ften grvxan ; 
 This fruitless 0\>ntention 
 
 l»f inner *ttx>ntK>n 
 
 T^IU •.r.o yv^;^^t^ sad .-^nd Ivxne, 
 
 
 x^^ 
 
 
 IMI 
 
 
 
 
In thiw, your coriflition 
 
 Of awful ix'.rditiori, 
 Won't you corn<t to rny hntiy/f 
 
 WJtf) HuhtUi transition 
 
 'io joyful fruition, 
 W<;'ll liv<j without alarrnH. 
 
 When U'Jidc.r ovation 
 
 Bringu rjr>m«dy flirtation, 
 Forth CupifJ 't*.f-ji<\H hin fJartn ; 
 
 A bliHHful H<'.nHatior) 
 
 Of our cloM'i r"Jatiori 
 (]rf/;\>A o'<;r rny h<iart of h<;art». 
 
 i'y fri<;nfJ]y at.tra';tion 
 
 Of \(}Wiin/^ rf'/A';l\f)U 
 You hav<', a warm pla/;'; Uthnt ; 
 
 A \f)n'/(',r protraf^ition 
 
 In \>nri'^]r>y^ (li i-X r'Af til tm 
 Will fJrivf: ri-j«: t,o d^Hpair, 
 
 J« thJH th' /fj 
 
 <'>f your '-, / 
 Nothin;/ y^ - 
 
 JuHt rnak': 
 
 To take rny protection, 
 You »e*?, J Jove you, dear. 
 
 :tJon ? 
 
 *<;ar ; 
 ■j'orj 
 
 3J 
 
ODE TO ZETECALIAN. 
 
 A merry rhyme 
 
 In shortest time 
 I write — not for offence — 
 
 So do not chime, 
 
 With lips sublime, 
 "Oh, come from off the fence." 
 
 Could I beguile 
 
 You for a while, 
 My heart would swell and break 
 
 Which, should you smile 
 
 In bonny style, 
 A higher leap would take. 
 
 But should you frown 
 
 And throw this down ; 
 Should any such betide. 
 
 With no fair crown 
 
 My head around, 
 I'm sure I'd suicide. 
 
 Had I the power 
 
 For one short hour 
 To sing a new, sweet tune. 
 
 My head would tower 
 
 Where starlights flower 
 And strike against the moon. 
 
 But, woe is me ! 
 
 The fates decree 
 That I should meditate ; 
 
 And thus you see, 
 
 So void of glee, 
 I scratch my empty pate. 
 
 32 
 
There is a gem 
 
 For diadem 
 More priceless far than purest gold- 
 
 A rare white gem — 
 
 The fit emblem 
 Of purity from days of old. 
 
 This diamond bright, 
 
 Though such a sight, 
 Though crowning jet-black hair. 
 
 Oh, never might, 
 
 When in your sight, 
 Seem even passing fair. 
 
 The roses sweet 
 
 Our vision greet. 
 Their petals full unfurled ; 
 
 With color meet, 
 
 With smell replete, 
 They ravish all the world. 
 
 But, oh, the fame 
 
 They ne'er can claim — 
 This tribute is but due — 
 
 From them as same, 
 
 And very tame, 
 All eyes are turned on you. 
 
 Oh, could my pen, 
 
 I wail again, 
 A worthy tribute bring, 
 
 The sons of men 
 
 Would ne'er again 
 Dare to attempt to sing. 
 
 33 
 
My fame would spread, 
 
 Ere I was dead, 
 To Jupiter and Mars ; 
 
 And when I'd fled 
 
 To earthy bed 
 'Twould reach the farthest stars. 
 
 Though giving pain, 
 
 The fact is plain 
 That that is not my place ; 
 
 I'll never gain 
 
 That honored plane, 
 And so I'll " close my face." 
 
 84 
 
 ._J 
 
A DREAM. 
 
 Had I the power of Jupiter 
 I'd let no finite hand deter 
 
 Me from service proud or mean 
 To her so fair— past all compare — 
 
 Whom I fain would make my queen. 
 
 I'd bid my vassals linger nigh 
 
 By day and night with jealous eye 
 
 And waive all care aside, 
 That no alarm or earthly harm 
 
 Should e'er my love betide ; 
 
 And genii, gods, goddesses and all, 
 Should ever wait upon her beck and call. 
 
 Ten thousand thousand fairy hands and feet 
 Should spend their might by day and night 
 
 To make her every moment calm and sweet. 
 
 Her slightest want should be supplied, 
 No wish of hers should be denied 
 
 That could one joy for her complete ; 
 From first to last I'd freely cast 
 
 The universe down at her feet. 
 
 But yet, alas ! 'twas not my fate 
 To be assigned so high a state, 
 
 For I am but a man ; nor can 
 I offer more of worldly store 
 
 Than almost any other man. 
 
 I cannot offer gold nor lands. 
 
 Nor slaves to wait for her commands. 
 
 But what I can impart — 
 More priceless far than world or star — 
 
 Is my own manly heart. 
 
 35 
 
A philanthropic mind, a heart — a soul — above 
 
 All habits low of speech or deed— a boundless love— 
 
 A heart— a soul— a life to her most true — 
 These things I have to give, my vow for her to live— 
 
 My life—'i^iy all — and this I hereby do. 
 
A VALENTINE, 
 
 Oh, maiden fair, in whose sweet sight 
 All other things are commonplace. 
 
 And dainty nymphs e'en take their flight 
 With one glance at thy matchless face ; 
 
 Earth's grandest, greatest joy to me would be 
 To steal from thy pure lips a kiss. 
 
 While sipping nectar such as this, to me 
 Would be eternal, boundless bliss. 
 
 37 
 
ETHEL MAY. 
 
 'Tain't every feller that you see 
 
 Has got as pert a sis as me, 
 
 Fer Sue's as smart as she can be. 
 
 She's ben to college quite a spell, 
 
 An' shows up there 'mongst 'em right well. 
 
 Fer readin' Lating, Greek an' such, 
 
 An' talkin' Spanish, French an' Dutch, 
 
 She simply can't be beat, I'll swear; 
 
 An' as fer that pianner there. 
 
 You'd think, to hear the old thing tear 
 
 'Twould get right up an' rip an' rare, 
 
 An' she a-sittin' calmly there 
 
 As if she didn't never care 
 
 What her fingers did, nor where they went, 
 
 An' they a-goin' lickety blinkin' bent 
 
 Till the old pianner everythin' but splits 
 
 An' she gives a couple partin' bangs an' quits. 
 
 Oh, she's the sweetest girl in town, . 
 
 Or in the country all aroun'; 
 
 An' when we go to church, well, well. 
 
 If I don't cut the biggest swell ; 
 
 I never look at country people, 
 
 Bnt keep a-gazin' at the steeple — 
 
 'N'at Sal Jones, the gal I used ter spark 
 
 An' hug an' kiss of evenin's arter dark 
 
 Till Tom White cut me out— I stick 
 
 My nose up mighty high an' quick 
 
 When she looks 'round, an' gaze at space 
 
 As if I'd never seed her face ; 
 
 An' while the preacher talks about our sins 
 
 All I think of is, " Sue an me's twins." 
 
 41 
 
0' course Sue's got a chum away 
 
 At school ; her name is Ethel May ; 
 
 She's comin' out to visit here— 
 
 'Cuz Sue went home with her last year— 
 
 An' stay at least three weeks ; 
 
 An' now she up an' speaks 
 
 An' says she'll come this afternoon— 
 
 I didn't 'spect her quite so soon. 
 
 I'll skin to Miller's in a hurry 
 
 An' borry their spick span new surrey, 
 
 An' bring our racin' colts aroun', 
 
 An' show Miss Ethel— an' the town— 
 
 That when I'm slicked up in my best 
 
 I hold my head up with the rest. 
 
 I'll talk off to her kind o' bluff 
 
 An' make her think I'm just the stuff. 
 
 Sue says she's she's awful smart, 
 
 But course she'd take her part. 
 
 I'll notice her enough to show 
 
 Fer love of Sue, I'll gladly go 
 
 Her friends and schoolmates, too ; 
 
 But, course, they're not " in it" with Sue. 
 
 In every place, by day or night, 
 
 Sue an' me's jest " out of sight." 
 
 It's gettin' 'long the time o' day 
 
 Fer me to go an' meet Miss May. 
 
 I guess I'll ride awhile about 
 
 An' when the train's a-pullin' out 
 
 I'll drive along up to the landin', 
 
 Close by the spot where she'll be standin' 
 
 An' give the rig a little turn 
 
 As if I didn't give a durn 
 
 Fer what she said er done, an' say, 
 
 "I s'pose that this is Ethel May ; 
 
 42 
 
I can't get out there, I'll be beat, 
 
 But jump right in the hinder seat. 
 
 These colts is feelin' good ter-day, 
 
 An' when they get a little gay 
 
 It's all a feller wants ter do 
 
 To tend ter them. My sister Sue 
 
 Didn't hev no time to come to town, 
 
 An' so I thought I'd drive aroun';" 
 
 An then I'll give her lots of guff, 
 
 An' fill her up with piles of stuff 
 
 About the town an' everythin' 
 
 We see along until we bring 
 
 Up home. I'll fool her, I'll allow. 
 
 Gosh ! there's her train a-comin* now. 
 
 Whoa, Bill ! whoa, Bess ! Steady there ! 
 
 Don't you go to rip an' rare ! 
 
 I wonder if that's her a-talkin' 
 
 With the agent ? Now she's walkin' 
 
 Right down this way. What was it I 
 
 Was goin' to say to her ? My ! my ! 
 
 I can't think o' nuthin'. " Yep, I'm Jim. 
 
 Sue's to home." I never felt so slim! 
 
 An.' there, she's dim right in with me ; 
 
 Should think she'd have nuff sense to see 
 
 The hinder seat is just her place. 
 
 But, now, I'll look once at her face — 
 
 Red hair ; golly ! reddish, sandy skin — 
 
 Pretty, is she ? That's too gol durned thin ! 
 
 There, she saw me lookin' ! Get up, there, 
 
 Bill an' Bess ! Gee whiz ! Get up ! I swear ! 
 
 Can't you move along? I wonder 
 
 What time it is ? Two-ten ? Thunder! 
 
 What is it makes my head itch so ? 
 
 I never saw this team so slow. 
 
 What time did I say it was ? Oh, yes, 
 
 Can't remember anything, I guess. 
 
 43 
 
Well, here we are home. Ain't I glad ! 
 
 An', still, it makes me awful mad 
 
 That she's ben talkin' all the way 
 
 'N'l couldn't think of "nit" to say. 
 
 Well, what's the " diff ? " Here goes to do 
 
 The chores, an' pickin' cherries, too. 
 
 ***** 
 Three weeks gone by — it doesn't seem 
 Three days. I didn't never dream 
 How fast time flew, nor that I'd give a cent 
 How long she stayed with us or when she went. 
 But now she's really gone. Well, I'll be beat ! 
 She isn't pretty, but she's awful sweet. 
 An', pop, he says — the slickest thing of all — 
 As I can go to college in the fall. 
 
 ***** 
 Three short years have passed away — 
 Doesn't seem more than a day — 
 Since I entered college, and yet, really, now, 
 I'm a Senior. It is grateful, I'll allow. 
 And passing pleasant just to know 
 How changed I am from that ago. 
 Sue says Miss May is coming soon — 
 Now, really, 'tis this afternoon. 
 I'll get a rig and man, and dress 
 To kill, and slightly make her guess 
 That I'm a dude. I'll curl my beard 
 And get my monocle all geared 
 To eighty-eight ; sling on more dog than 
 All others with coachman, footman 
 And everything beside to take 
 Her 'round, and home, and make 
 Her feel surprised. Right now it's time 
 To go prepare for eyes sublime. 
 
 44 
 
I 
 
 "Awnd this is shuah Miss May ? Aw, me ! 
 Baw Jowve ! Ahm awful glad to see 
 Yuh ! Jawn, help the lady in. 
 Gad ! thwee twooly yeahs it's been 
 Since you wuh heah, and you aw not 
 Changed by a single, tiny dot. 
 Sue'U be awful glad to know 
 
 That you've come, awnd you cawnot go 
 
 Befaw a month. Now, Jawn, don't dwive 
 
 So vewy fast, me mon alive." 
 
 Now, I'm running a great bluff ; 
 
 She^don't like that kind of stuff; 
 
 But, seeing that I have begun, 
 
 I'm bound to have a mint of fun. 
 
 Home so soon ? How time does glide 
 
 When you're sitting side by side 
 
 With her in whom you take most pride ; 
 
 How short does seem each carriage ride. 
 
 And I've been talking all the way homeward, 
 
 While she's been silent, thinking very hard. 
 
 I've met a few girls in my day, 
 
 But never other half so gay. 
 
 Two weeks have gone, but all too fast. 
 
 Another visit almost past. 
 
 " Gowing home to-mowwow? Now, Miss May, 
 
 Awyou weally shuah you cawnot stay 
 
 The month out ? Well, if we must pawt, 
 
 I want to say befaw you stawt 
 
 That I'm no fool, and hence no dude. 
 
 Although for fun, you see, I've stood 
 
 The role two weeks ; so here goes my 
 
 Monocle from out my eye. 
 
 This stiff sky-scraper off my throat— 
 
 I can't say I did ever dote 
 
 45 
 
On them. But now I want to say, 
 
 Just for your ears, sweet Ethel May, 
 
 In my big, loving eyes you're worth 
 
 The most of any girl on earth ; 
 
 So say the word, and I will come. 
 
 When through at school to bring you home. 
 
 'Tis said ! One kiss ! Yes — two ! three ! four ! 
 
 And yet, so sweet, a dozen more ! 
 
 There, there, you smile — the deed is done — 
 
 In one short year we two'll be one. 
 
 46 
 
ODE TO LINDEN. 
 
 Through Linden, when the sun was low, 
 I passed, a year and more ago ; 
 And there — oh, heart ; why flutter so ? 
 I met a charming maiden. 
 
 Summer went and autumn came ; 
 
 At A , in teacher's meeting tame, 
 
 Once more, with joy, I met the same 
 Bewitching, laughing maiden. 
 
 Another summer came our way, 
 When once upon a sorry day, 
 I met a man whose homestead lay 
 In Linden near that maiden. 
 
 I said I knew a maiden there — 
 A maiden sweet — a maiden rare, 
 That day, I learned to my despair, 
 A man would wed that maiden. 
 
 Oh, fatal day whene'er we met ! 
 O, day how much more fatal yet 
 That made her someone else's pet, 
 That self same naughty maiden. 
 
 O, Linden, girt with many hills ! 
 O, Linden, free from business ills! 
 O, Linden, full of tucks and frills ! 
 The home of charming maidens. 
 
 But Linden, sorrow not for me, 
 For my bold happy heart you see 
 Is from snares and meshes free, 
 Of all designing maidens. 
 
 Yes, gone are all those aching pains. 
 And now I search where Cupid reigns. 
 And seek for Beauty, Wealth and Brains, 
 In one adored, sweet maiden. 
 
 47 
 
*' IN IT. 
 
 The rich man stood in his parlor door— 
 A thing he'd often done before— 
 And spurned the agents of the poor. 
 He wasn't "in it," 
 
 They asked him to give of his great wealth 
 To those who had neither gold nor health. 
 "They'd a-had it if they'd sense to win it." 
 And he wasn't "in it." 
 
 Past the hospital door on a cold winter's day 
 Went a hearse in which a rich coffin lay, 
 Whose draping had taken wrecks to spin it. 
 
 He was "in it." 
 A soul had knocked at heaven's gate ; 
 St. Peter sternly said to wait 
 While he looked in his record book— it took 
 but a minute, 
 For he w^as "in it." 
 
 Quoth St. Peter, "You've made a great sell, 
 For you've bought a ticket straight to— well, 
 Your elevator goes down in a minute. 
 He was "in it." 
 
 48 
 
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