Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 206, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1914 — The QNLOOKER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The QNLOOKER

By HENRY HOWLAND

FOOLISH • OLD EXCUSE

He "didn’t mean to do it” when he burned the barn that day; He was Innocently playing with some matches in the hay; It was very wrong to blame him for the loss which was sustained When he didn’t mean to do It, as he afterward explained. He didn’t mean to do it when he made his sister "blind, He was merely getting practice with a dart he had designed;, It was very wrong to blame him for her lose and for her woe, When 'he didn’t mean to do it, and <t merely happened so. He didn’t mean to do It when he forged another’s name; He was muddled from much drinking, and was Innocent of blame; It was wrong of them to rob him of his freedom or to think That he ever would have done It if It had not been for drink. , He didn’t mean to do It when he broke his mother’s heart. He supposed that as a “rounder" he would be considered smart; It was very wrong to blame him for the suffering he brought When It all resulted simply through a little lack of thought. He "didn’t mean.,to do It!" And you never mean, my boy, To be called upon to answer for the gladness you destroy; You ’are merely seeking pleasure In a reckless, ■ thoughtless way, Putting off until tomorrow truths that you should learn today.