Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1917 — PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON [ARTICLE]

PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON

Sd long arid earnestly I’ve wrought, pursued the beastly grind: I’ve ring-bones on my dome of thought, and spavins on my mindThe ghastly fear of evil times, of poverty when old' has kept me humping after dimes, for gold and still more gold. I have a package put away, where none . can jar it loose; and sometimes, at the close of day, I wonder what’s the use. When I have left this busy sphere. Where only man is vile, some able lawyer will appear, and gather in my pile. Throughout this weary worldly jaunt I’ve skimped and saved and pared; I’ve done without the things I want, the things for which I cared. To add one large round dollar more to what I have in brine, I’ve made existence Bad and Sore, and what reward js mine? Why do I slave and moil and grind, why do I toil and spin? I’ll have to leave my roll behind, tor others to blow in. Thebe words seem ever ringing loud, like some decree of doom: “There is no,, pocket in a shroud, no cashbox in a tomb.’’ When I no longer am alive, but sleeping ’heath the sod, some learned attorney will arrive, and hook on~ to my wad.