Part 5 (2/2)

I have no doubt my wife looked out, as well as any one-- As well as any woman could--to see that things was done: For though Melinda, when I'm there, won't set her foot outdoors, She's very careful, when I'm gone, to tend to all the ch.o.r.es.

But nothing prospers half so well when I go off to stay, And I will put things into shape, when I get home to-day.

The mornin' that I come away, we had a little bout; I coolly took my hat and left, before the show was out.

For what I said was naught whereat she ought to take offense; And she was always quick at words and ready to commence.

But then she's first one to give up when she has had her say; And she will meet me with a kiss, when I go home to-day.

My little boy--I'll give 'em leave to match him, if they can; It's fun to see him strut about, and try to be a man!

The gamest, cheeriest little chap, you'd ever want to see!

And then they laugh, because I think the child resembles me.

The little rogue! he goes for me, like robbers for their prey; He'll turn my pockets inside out, when I get home to-day.

My little girl--I can't contrive how it should happen thus-- That G.o.d could pick that sweet bouquet, and fling it down to us!

My wife, she says that han'some face will some day make a stir; And then I laugh, because she thinks the child resembles her.

She'll meet me half-way down the hill, and kiss me, any way; And light my heart up with her smiles, when I go home to-day!

If there's a heaven upon the earth, a fellow knows it when He's been away from home a week, and then gets back again.

If there's a heaven above the earth, there often, I'll be bound, Some homesick fellow meets his folks, and hugs 'em all around.

But let my creed be right or wrong, or be it as it may, My heaven is just ahead of me--I'm going home to-day.

OUT O' THE FIRE.

[As Told in 1880.]

Year of '71, children, middle of the fall, On one fearful night, children, we well-nigh lost our all.

True, it wa'n't no great sum we had to lose that night, But when a little's all you've got, it comes to a blessed sight.

I was a mighty worker, in them 'ere difficult days, For work is a good investment, and almost always pays; But when ten years' hard labor went smokin' into the air.

I doubted all o' the maxims, an' felt that it wasn't fair.

Up from the East we had traveled, with all of our household wares, Where we had long been workin' a piece of land on shares; But how a fellow's to prosper without the rise of the land, For just two-thirds of nothin', I never could understand.

Up from the East we had traveled, me and my folks alone, And quick we went to workin' a piece of land of our own; Small was our backwoods quarters, and things looked mighty cheap; But every thing we put in there, we put in there to keep.

So, with workin' and savin', we managed to get along; Managed to make a livin', and feel consid'able strong; And things went smooth and happy, an' fair as the average run, Till every thing went back on me, in the fall of '71.

First thing bothered and worried me, was 'long o' my daughter Kate; Rather a han'some cre'tur', and folks all liked her gait.

Not so nice as them sham ones in yeller-covered books; But still there wa'n't much discount on Katherine's ways an' looks.

And Katherine's smile was pleasant, and Katherine's temper good, And how she come to like Tom Smith, I never understood; For she was a mornin'-glory, as fair as you ever see, And Tom was a s.h.a.g-bark hickory, as green as green could be.

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