Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1885 — This Time Its Poetry. [ARTICLE]

This Time Its Poetry.

Two Rhyming Sketches OT Rensselaer, maftfte many Years ago. Editor's Note:—‘The several sketches of Rensselaer which have lately been published in The Republican, although they have treated of all periods of the town's life, both hea£ and remote, are all of very* recent production. Below we give two sketches of Rgnssolaet which . possess the double interest of being written in Rhyme and of being many years old. To the Hon. J. L. Pierce, bi Lebanon, a former resident of this county, we ai‘e indebted for the copies of the descriptions which we give below. Frora.Mr, Pierce’s letter which accompanied the manuscripts we quote the following: “Thinking that’jjerhapfl your readers would like to draw a comparison between the Rensselaer of the past and the city of the present, I send two deof the town. The first “Rensselaer of 1&52”, the second, “Rensselaer of I860;’’ I wish to state that neither of the descriptions are original with hie. I do not know who was the author of the first; the second is a description given by the late I. N. S. Alter, who will be remembered by all the residents of twenty years ago, as the Able editor 6f the Rensselaer Gazette. fie was, 1 think, a cousin of the Dr. M. B. Alter, now Treasurer of your county. Rensselaer of Author Unknbwrt, Rensselaei’, the Bogus town: A. G. Denton and Geo. O. Brown; George Spitler is Lawyer turning, And David Snyder “Just a learning”, Tail Holt, the old saw mill; Old John Haddix and his son Bill, Tail Holt Slabs, in a pile; Old John Haddix and his son Rile. Rensselaer of 1860. By I. N. S. Alter,. Where is the town both far or near With this, one can compare, I mean the town of Rensselaer, And simply ask you where!' Borne back from Pisgah’s Mountain , peak, 1 Upon the Balmy Air, Comes a voice low, soft and weak, Whispering, “alas: no where”, John Austin on the corner is a very clever man, , He meets you with a smiling face, And takes you by the hand; There’s not a bit of cheat in He’s square in every dicker; He sells you Coffee, Sugar Tea But never sells you “likker". The Wilson Boys are clever. The Saddlers, just next door. Riding saddles of their leather Will never make yon sore, tke Stackhouse and his brother, Now keep the Hardware store. And if their ware aint hard enough, They’l orderbn some more. Next comes a little “No place” Keeping Nothing of all sizes. Nobody who tends it, For he liever advertisesLaßue & NVisharcl, merchants here, Keep fanny goods displayed, And for cash not very dear, A pleasant place to trade. Next comes the Bank of Rensselaer. An institution sound, Deposite there, you need not fear; It stands on solid ground. Up in the big stone building. - Tom Clark you’l always find. He’s every whit a gentleman, One of the modern kind. He keeps the best of goods on hand, And some to please the eye, A score of cloaks at his command, To sell to those who buy. The Seminary moves in view. A school for Education, The teachers there t each precepts true To the rising generation. Long may it flourish and its faine Be spread bpth far and near, As the “Male and Female Seminary”, Of the town of Rensselaer. Friend Pressley keeps the Dunlap House, TJiats just across the streets; While Alex, keeps the Rowan House, With victuals good to eat. / Now we have gone up far enough, Before we leave our seat, IN e’l take a turn and travel down The other side the street. John Thompson keeps a Dry Goods Store, In the very latest style. He treats, you as a gentleman. And meets you with a smile. Jan Ballards' seUingDrugs next door .V° ll of the' shakes. And Cy Barnes keeps Tobacco, That is’nt hard to take. Friends Ptuk and Deacon Dow-Ting. Keep the “$h inghai Merchant Hall :” And should you want a wadding suit, V\ hy there's the place to call. Brooms are made by Charley Rhoades, And Harness, number one; Whi’e “Windy” Axis wa'ches, - And warrants th'm to run, McShußy, knight jf add and last,

A mighty man is he. Just you drop in on going pas t, His leathern ware to see. * , Irwin & it opkins come in turn. The “Hoosier Store” they keep, And from what little we can learn, They sell their goods quite cheap. And now I’ve come down to the last, Tis “Honest John” the Dutchman. Maybe you think I’m talking fast, I would we’d more just such men. He makes a Boot that cant be beat, For rub and wear and tear. He makes ft fit so very neat, And charges naught but fair. We’ve reached the end bf our oflly t street, But turn around the corner, And a son of Vulcan you will find. And they call him Norman Warner. Jeduthan keeps the old Grist Mill. Where the angry waters roll. He’ll give your - Bran if you bring a sack, But lie always keeps his toll.