In the Ol’ Tobacker Patch
I jess kind o’ feel so lonesome that I don’t know what to do,
When I think about them days we used to spend
A hoein’ out tobacker in th’ clearin’—me an’ you—
An’ a wishin’ that the day was at an end.
For the dewdrops was a sparklin’ on the beeches’ tender leaves
As we started out a workin’ in the morn;
An’ th’ noonday sun was sendin’ down a shower of burnin’ sheaves
When we heard the welcome-soundin’ dinner-horn.
An’ th’ shadders round us gathered in a sort of ghostly batch,
‘Fore we started home from workin’ in that ol’ tobacker patch.
I’m a feelin’ mighty lonesome, as I look aroun’ to-day,
For I see th’ change that’s taken place since then.
All th’ hills is brown and faded, for th’ woods is cleared away;
You an’ me has changed from ragged boys to men;
You are livin’ in th’ city that we ust to dream about;
I am still a dwellin’ here upon the place,
But my form is bent an’ feeble, which was once so straight and stout,
An’ there’s most a thousand wrinkles on my face.
You have made a mint of money; I, perhaps have been your match,
But we both enjoyed life better in that ol’ tobacker patch.
S.Q. LAPIUS.