Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 298, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1920 — THE WOODS [ARTICLE]

THE WOODS

BY DOUGLAS MALLOCH

POSSESSION. There’s some of us has this world s goods. An’ some of us has none — But all of us has got the woods, An’ all has got the sun. So, settln* here upon the stoop, This patch o’ pine beside, I never care a- single whoop— Fer I am satisfied. Now, take the pine on yonder hill: It don’t belong to me; The boss he owns the timber — still. It’s there fer me to see. An’ ’twlxt the ownin’ of the same An’ smellin’ of Its smell. I’ve got the best of that there gam< An’ so I’m feelln’ well. The boss In town unrolls a map , An’ proudly says, “It’s mine.” But he don’t drink no maple sap An’ he don’t smell no pine. The boss In town he Aggers lands In quarter-sections red; Lord! I just set with folded hands An* breathe ’em in instead. The boss his forest wealth kin read In cent an’ (Foliar sign; His name Is written In the deed — But all his land Is mine. There’s some of us has this world’s goods, An’ some of us has none— But all of us has got the woods, An’ all has got the sun! (Copyright)