276
WEST SHORE.
.1 r i.
-v.
0, lie wdi mighty tickled at de Cain we wm a-raisin',
An' de mow waa on de groun' an' de moon was in de sky,
An ober all creation wai a lubliness amarin',
An' all de little atah'i wan a-crowdin' an' a-gazin',
Fo' to lee de bran new yeah wil hii train ob dayn pass by.
MS PO' 01' YEAH.
0 de po' ol' yeah am a-elowin' np his bom,
An-de wheels ob bin kyart cain't hardly torn roun',
Fo' hat all loaded down wil de bu'dens an' de losses,
Wil de trial- an' de troubles de vexations an' de crosses,
An' de clouds am in de sky an' de snow am on de groan'.
ii.
0, 1 -membahs berry well de fust ob his comln',
An' all de folks from eberywbar was glad to see him, too;
An' ebery niggah's heels on de flo' was a-drummin',
An' all de fiddles squeakin' till de raftabs was a-hummin ,
Fo' to gib a likely " howdy " to a Men' dey knowed was true.
IV.
0 lawny I how de peartes' folks will git Into trouble I
' An' how der berry peartnesB makes 'em stan' np strong an' bravel
When all der luck am bustin' like a ol' wore-out soap bubble,
An' loads am on der backs ernough to bend 'em double,
You nebbah sees de peartes' folks ies git right up an' cave.
Well, de yeah he kep' a-goln', an' he still was bright an' cheerful,
Aldo he'd been deserted by more 'an half his twin.
Dar wai some dat thought Miss April was a pow'ful sight too teahful,
An' some days said dat Augus' wif her heat an' due was feahful ;
Dey pitched der luggage in de kyart an' went kitin' down de lane.
But de po' ol' yeah, he jes kep' on a-drlvin',
An' he tried wil all his might to be drefful good an' kin j
By hook an' by crook, an' de berry bee' contrlvin',
He kep safe all de pa'cels dat was always a-arivin',
Till der wa'n't a single day lef to push de kyart behln'.
An' now de po' ol' yeah am a-slowln' up his hosses,
De wheels ob his kyart cain't hardly turn roun' j
He's gwine t' leab behin' '1m all de bu'dens an' de losses,
An' let de folks atten' to der trials an' der crosses
0, de clouds am in de sky, but der's res' In de groun'.
William Zaciiary Gladwin.
A CARD.
Christmas eve the dull sky was roofed with leaden clouds. A notice
able hush seemed to voice, as it were, a snow storm. Snow birds came
flocking from every where little homeless creatures welcoming the coming
storm. Along after dark flakes began falling and the ground was soon
white with winter's bloom. Next morning, when I looked forth, my eyes
beheld a forest of pearl. The trees had grown old In a single night, as If
from the fright of the storm. At midnight the wind blew and awoke me,
when I heard the trees moaning, and giiing through the window I taw a
tall elm, which grew near, throwing his limbs about as would a wild man
his arms. But a blue sky followed this night of storm, when the stars one
by one melted into the blate of the sun as he, next morn, pressed his warm
kiss of light upon the world's white cheeks. It was a happy Christmas.
The spirit of ( Naiarene, who, when he fell asleep, woke up the world,
seemed to possets all hearts, whose good will overflowed all speech.
On the first of December a friend and I fell out, and it seemed at the
time we would never be able to fall In again. Time went on never knew
htm to do otherwise ; that la why so many people are behind time.
On Christmas day I kept thinking of my estranged friend ; so I made
up my mind to send him some token to let him know if our friendship were
dead its memory still lived. Now, whatahould I send him? The value of
a gift was not the consideration. Its appropriateness was far more import
ant, There was danger of destroying the delicacy of our mutual estrange
ment, which formed the ground of hope for a reconciliation. After awhile
I took a blank card and wrote on it :
Though I turd Mih'iij inoiY, ttod Urn my fritnd.
I signed Uiis card and sent it to my friend. The day after Christmas I met
him. He said: " How do you do?" I said: Pretty well," though I
seldom do so. The tears came into my friend's
eyes and we parted without saying a word
more than our greeting.
In a few days he wrote me a letter, say
ing he had planned to get even with me.
" Now, the debt of our offense is settled.
You have taught me that a little generosity
and kindness to a foe is more powerful to
overcome him than would be all the hatred of
the world." I read this and then thought how
grateful the world ought to be that it has'.had
one disinterested lover, the influence of whose
example grows in power and magnitude with
each returning Chirstmas.
Lis Fairciiild.
A RECORD BREAKER.
D Rants I hear you want a " walking
gentleman," and have come to offer my services.
Manaokr Are you qualified?
Ds Uantk Well, I should
say so. I walked home
from Salt Lake City to
New York last season.