!y has talked with me
tn 't never agree ;
any terrible crime;
a little at a time.

cow;
Dnly-How?

as mad.

a a joke ;
)f us spoke.
she broke a bowl;
iad n't any soul.
in our cup ;
a comin' up;

as hot.

the self-same way;

There's a little hard money that's drawin' tol'rable pay;
A couple of hundred dollars laid by for a rainy day
Safe in the hands of good men, and easy to get at ;
Put in another clause, there, and give her half of that.
Yes, I see you smile, sir, at my givin' her so much;
Yes, divorce is cheap, sir, but I take no stock in such.
True and fair I married her, when she was blithe and young;
And Betsey was al'ays good to me, except with her tongue.
Once, when I was young as you, and not so smart, perhaps,
For me she mittened a lawyer, and several other chaps;
And all of 'em was flustered and fairly taken down,
And I for a time was counted the luckiest man in town.
Once when I had a fever - I won't forget it soon-
I was hot as a basted turkey and crazy as a loon -
Never an hour went by when she was out of sight ;
She nursed me true and tender, and stuck to me day and night.
And if ever a house was tidy, and ever a kitchen clean,
Her house and kitchen was as tidy as any I ever seen;
And I do n't complain of Betsey or any of her acts,
Exceptin' when we've quarrelled and told each other facts.
So draw up the paper, lawyer; and I'll go home to-night,
And read the agreement to her and see if it's all right.
And then in the mornin' I '11 sell to a tradin' man I k now -
And kiss the 01ild that was left to us, and out in the world I 'll
go.
And one thing put in the paper, that first to me did n't occur-
That when I 'm dead at last she shall bring me back to her;
And lay me under the maples I planted years ago,
When she and I was happy, before we quarrelled so.
And when she dies, I wish that she would be laid by me;
And lyin' together in silence, perhaps we will agree ;
And if ever we meet in heaven, I wouldn't think it queer
If we loved each other the better because we quarrelled here.