Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 February 1904 — TO A COUNTRY TOWN. [ARTICLE]

TO A COUNTRY TOWN.

Here is the home of my bovliood, The scenes of my heart ever dear— The lanes and the streets where the locustbloom sweets Freight the air in the spring of the year. The common, where bare-headed mischief. With roguish delight in his eye. Routs the bee honey-bent by the white clover’s scent. And the grass-hopper keeps on the fly. And here is the square, where the farmers Swap yarns when they come in to trade Their country produce for the “stuff” that turns loose ’* Tongue brakes on the “skeleton” grade. The flag-pole, where streamer, once bearing The name of “Old Abe,” proudly flies; The rudely built stand where the orator grand Stuffs his hearers with eloquent lies. And here is the church on thecorner. Where the sinner for pardon applies: , The high-backed old pews, where the tired brethern snooze To the joy of the wide-awake flies. The belfry, moss-covered, where sparrows Nest safe from the fowl pirate's reach; The rust-coated bell—what a tale it could tell, Were it touched by the magic of speech!

And here is the “Squire's" apple orchard, 0 Where the pippins grow temptingly great; The high picket fence, where I sat in suspense The hungry dog's pleasure to wait. The calf-pasture there in the outskirts. The Indian mound, yellow and bare. The ill-fated spot where I lucklessly shot A prize-wipning calf for a hare. And here is a weather-worn cottage, Decayed and untenanted now, Save by rodents that profane revelries hold, Or indulge In an unlicensed row. The yard, where excitement ran riot On the dav when we raced our stick steeds; The garden in rear where we dug for life dear To produce a good crop of—rag-weeds. And this Is the home of my boyjjood. The birthplace I'm honored to own And this heart of mine never ceases to pine For the joys that with boyhood have flown. And at last when the long drama's ended. And the curtain of life is rung down, May the world never say that I strove not to pay My debt to the old country town.