THIS is "The Old Home by the Mill" -- fer we still call it so, Although the @3old mill,@1 roof and sill, is all gone long ago, The old home, though, and the old folks -- the old spring, and a few Old cattails, weeds and hartychokes, is left to welcome you! Here, Marg'et! -- fetch the man a @3tin@1 to drink out of! Our spring Keeps kindo'-sorto' cavin' in, but don't "@3taste@1" anything! She's kindo' @3agin@1', Marg'et is -- "the @3old@1 process" -- like me, All ham-stringed up with rhumatiz, and on in seventy-three. Jest me and Marg'et lives alone here -- like in long ago; The children all putt off and gone, and married, don't you know? One's millin' 'way out West somewhare; two other miller-boys In Minnyopolis they air; and one's in Illinoise. The @3oldest@1 gyrl -- the first that went -- married and died right here; The next lives in Winn's Settlement -- fer purt' nigh thirty year! And youngest one -- was allus fer the old home here -- but no! -- Her man turns in and he packs @3her@1 'way off to Idyho! I don't miss them like @3Marg'et@1 does -- 'cause I got @3her,@1 you see; And when she pines for them -- that's 'cause @3she's@1 only jest got @3me!@1 I laugh, and joke her 'bout it all. -- But talkin' sense, I'll say, When she was tuk so bad last Fall, I laughed then t'other way! I hain't so favor'ble impressed 'bout @3dyin'@1; but ef I Found I was only second-best when @3us two@1 come to die, I'd 'dopt the "new process," in full, ef @3Marg'et@1 died, you see, -- I'd jest crawl in my grave and pull the green grass over me! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BEAN-STALK by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY FRATERNITY by ANNE REEVE ALDRICH PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 35. AL-GHAFIR by EDWIN ARNOLD RUSTIC CHILDHOOD by WILLIAM BARNES THIRD BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 21 by THOMAS CAMPION TO MARY by MAURETTE CHRISTOPHER |