child was sleeping snug and warm;
The lesson we must learn from thence,
Is for to trust in Providence.
Mule and Bear Fight
We have a favorite old mule,
A big load he can easy pull;
He is a quiet and gentle beast,
No trouble with him in the least.
Once we left him in the wood,
And he got into surly mood,
For a big bear did round him fool
’Till kicked by hind feet of our mule.
One caulk it struck in its neck
Enough the joint of it to break;
The bear was quite stunned with the blow,
And soon lay helpless in the snow.
I unhitched mule from the sleigh.
So as to give the beast fair play;
I knew the bear would soon come round,
And that our mule would stand his ground.
The bear now raised upon his haunches,
But mule a blow at him he launches;
With both hind feet to lay him low,
But the bear he dodged the blow.
The bear then threw his arms round mule,
And he strove him down to pull,
But all in vain, the bear with feet,
He could not with the mule compete.
For he gave bear no time to pause,
But with his hoofs he broke his jaws,
And the great bear he soon laid low,
His blood all scatter’d o’er the snow.
I truly think the mule takes pride,
Each winter o’er the large bear’s hide;
He looks at it often in the sleigh,
Then merry he doth trot away.
Bear and Buzzsaw
A Saw Mill Yarn
I owned sawmill in Michigan,
Which by water power ran;
Buzzsaw possessed mighty power,
Thousands of feet it cut each hour.
Mills could compete with it were few,
It cut plank that were four feet through;
Most of the mills were drove by steam,
But mine was drove by a big stream.
One morning when I started mill,
With wonder soon my mind doth fill,
For I was there then all alone,
With fear I was forced to groan,
When I saw big bear touch its paw
Against the swift running buzzsaw;
Its foot in moment it did tear,
And this it did enrage the bear.
The bear was now roused to fury,
It would be both judge and jury;
Rushing on it with open jaws,
And for to crush it with its paws.
Most wondrous sight I ever saw,
It cut through centre of its jaw;
Saw’s speed for moment did not fail,
Cutting through its back bone and tail.
In two the bear it did divide,
One half did lay upon each side;
Carcass we froze and fresh bear steak
We enjoyed many a week.
We sewed together the bear’s hide
Where the saw did skin divide;
In winter warmly now I ride,
’Neath bear skin famous far and wide.
Mill cogs and shafts they ran with ease
When lubricated with bear’s grease;
I never shall forget strange freak,
Brought nie bear’s skin and grease and steak.
Wooden Leg
Misfortune sometimes is a prize,
And is a blessing in disguise;
A man with a stout wooden leg,
Through town and country he can beg.
And the people in the city,
On poor man they do take pity;
He points them to his timber leg
And tells them of his poor wife, Meg.
And if a dog tries him to bite,
With his stiff leg he doth him smite,
Or sometimes he will let him dig
His teeth into the wooden leg.
Then never more will dog delight
This poor cripple man for to bite;
Rheumatic pains they never twig,
Nor corns annoy foot of leg.
So cripple if he’s man of sense,
Finds for ills some recompense;
And though he cannot dance a jig,
He merry moves on wooden leg.
And when he only has one foot,
He needs to brush only one boot;
Through world he does jolly peg,
So cheerful with his wooden leg.
In mud or water he can stand
With his foot on the firm dry land,
For wet he doth not care a fig,
It never hurts his wooden leg.
No aches he has but on the toes
Of one foot, and but one gets froze;
He has many a jolly rig,
And oft enjoys his wooden leg.
Alligator Rider
I was born in State of Florida,
On the banks of a mighty river,
Where each big alligator’s jaw
Makes the northern folks to shiver.
I truly was possessed with vim,
And some droll antics I would play,
While in the river I did swim,
And rode alligators in the bay.
It oft times amused spectators
Who came down south to gain their health,
To see me ride those alligators;
My sports to hotel brought great wealth.
In hotel were many waiters
To tend the guests, enjoyed my rides;
They loved to see the alligators
When with my spurs I pierced their hides.
My bridle great did them surprise,
I put no bit into their mouth,
But put my fingers in their eyes,
And thus amused the folks down south.
’Tis strange I still am a survivor,
Living ’mong earth’s sons and daughters,
For I was a wondrous diver,
And could boldly swim the waters.
Swifter far than any skaters
Do o’er north frozen waters glide,
I could stride my alligators,
And o’er the waters proudly ride.
Young Swell and Tramp
One day a youth full of conceit,
With witty tramp he chanced to meet,
As he was taking walk abroad
So leisurely along the road.
The tramp well knew the stylish gent
Wouid have hard work to raise a cent,
But a sad tale the tramp did tell
Of sorrows that had him befell.
While on the road he thus did stand
And humbly held his hat in hand;
Great eloquence he did employ,
He said he was poor orphan boy.
From labor he would never shirk,
But would be happy to get work,
For his family the bread winner,
But none of them had their dinner.
And some whole days would go past
Wherein they never broke their fast,
So pray now give me some relief
And help for to assuage my grief.
Said swell, “I never take a load
Of money with me when abroad,
For to dispense to tramps on street,
When I by chance with them do meet.
This speech for moment did not damp
The ardor of the witty tramp;
Said he, “Give me your card to call,
And visit your manorial hall.”
Lightning Rod Agent
An agent with both smiles and nods,
Asked Jones to buy his lightning rods;
Said Jones, “You have made a blunder,
I fear not lightning but the thunder.
“Others you may go a frightening,
I tremble not at the lightning;
Those that are scared at them, I wonder,
But
