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Heart Songs

<h2>The Meanest Man</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> “Tell you why I never got married? I’d as lief as not, Sarah Ann, I never but once got an offer, And then—well, he wasn’t the man. </div> <div class="stanza"> Tell the story—yes, if you wish it, You cannot remember I know When the widow Wemp an’ her youngster Moved in the old cottage below. </div> <div class="stanza"> That spring was as backward as could be, The nights and the days were so cold, Not a bird had a bit of a song But the robins, saucy and bold. </div> <div class="stanza"> Did you ever try to be kind to A kitten that scarcely could stand? Half starved, or half drowned, or half frozen, Yet it flies from your outstretched hand?{259} </div> <div class="stanza"> Well, ’twas just so with that little one When I tried to get him one day, My heart kind of melted watching him At his solemn unchildish play. </div> <div class="stanza"> A bran new idea, but struck me As I washed the dishes that night, I sauntered down to the cottage With a basket, not very light. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, but that was a comfortless room! The widow so thin and white Was rocking the boy, and a dimness Came over my eyes at the sight. </div> <div class="stanza"> I walked right up to her and kissed her, Says I, little woman I know Things haven’t gone well with you lately, Or you wouldn’t look as you do. </div> <div class="stanza"> But, says I, if a friend can help you, And ease up your trouble a mite, Why, I’ll just sit down here beside you, An’ we’ll talk it over to-night. </div> <div class="stanza"> She took my two hands and she held them, The big tears ran down her pale cheek, “Oh, I’m lonely, she cried, and foolish,” Says I, you are worn out an’ weak.{260} </div> <div class="stanza"> What has this to do with my offer? Be patient, my dear Sarah Ann, If you’d listened a minute longer You’d have caught a glimpse of the man. </div> <div class="stanza"> For right there all creaking and groaning, Beneath some rough limbs meant for wood, In front of the door of the cottage Old Abner Green’s big waggon stood. </div> <div class="stanza"> An’ Abner came in without knocking, A-nodding to her, an’ to me, “What, two of us here! well there’s nothin’ Like havin’ good neighbors,” said he. </div> <div class="stanza"> “Now, I’ve heard you’re mazin’ poor, Missus, An’ I reckon it must be true, Speak out to us fully and freely, It maybe I can help you through.” </div> <div class="stanza"> She told him—I sat there and listened To a story of hopes and fears, Of poverty, sorrow, and heartbreak, Till I scarce could see for the tears. </div> <div class="stanza"> She talked of the home of her childhood, Of parents and friends kind and true, Of seasons o’erflowing with pleasure, Of skies that were cloudless and blue,{261} Of the meadows so fragrant with clover, With bees in each down-drooping head, Of the noisy stream rushing onward, Away to its pebble-lined bed. </div> <div class="stanza"> Of the homely affection abounding, The work that was duty’s sweet call, Of the church that stood on the hillside, Of the graves—the end of it all. </div> <div class="stanza"> “I’m waiting,” her voice broke a little, “For one perfect summer to come, Not the stifling summers of cities, But one of the summers of home. </div> <div class="stanza"> And before the frost touches the flowers”— Here she held the boy to her breast— “I’ll be sleeping too soundly to care, And this dear one—ah, God knows best!” </div> <div class="stanza"> Now I’m not soft-hearted as some folks, But an odd catch came in my breath, She seemed such a lone little creature, With nothing to wait for but death. </div> <div class="stanza"> But Abner, he rose up and buttoned His great coat, and smiled so benign, “Missus,” he said, “I’ve brought you some wood, There’s no kinder heart—hem! than mine.”{262} </div> <div class="stanza"> Them limbs may be just a little tough, But no fire is tougher, I guess, Don’t thank me, I know what you mean now, An’ feelin’s are hard to express. </div> <div class="stanza"> Perhaps I’ve a penny about me To give to that boy that’s asleep, Don’t let him be foolish at spendin’, But teach him to hold and to keep. </div> <div class="stanza"> There’s likely some things at the house, too, I can either send up, or bring, Don’t thank me, you’re poor but you’re honest, You can work it out in the spring. </div> <div class="stanza"> I’m not so well-grounded as some folks, An’ I took a tumble from grace, To talk of her working to pay him, An’ death in her pretty young face. </div> <div class="stanza"> He followed me out as I started— My head pretty high—down the lane, But just as I came to the thorn-hedge, He caught up, and said he, “Now Jane, </div> <div class="stanza"> I’ve something special to tell you, You needn’t go hurrying through; Say, I’m thinkin’ of marryin’, Jane, An’ the lucky woman is—you.{263} </div> <div class="stanza"> Yes, I might have found one much younger If I had gone lookin’ around, But you can keep house, little woman, With the best of them, I’ll be bound. </div> <div class="stanza"> Looks shan’t count when I hunt a woman, Said I to myself, long ago, That she’s savin’, an’ strong, an’ hearty, Is all that I hanker to know. </div> <div class="stanza"> I tell you what, Jane, such a bargain Won’t travel your road every day, I’ve fixed my affections right on you, When shall it be? What do you say? </div> <div class="stanza"> We’re both of us steady an’ honest, We’ve both got a fair share of pelf, I’ve looked quite a while for a woman Who thinks just about like myself.” </div> <div class="stanza"> I gasped, Sarah Ann, for a minute, Was never so shamed in my life, And old Abner Green stood there leering, Quite certain, that I’d be his wife. </div> <div class="stanza"> “Do I look so anxious to marry?” Said I, with lips scornfully curled, “That you really think I’d go partners With the meanest man in the world?{264} </div> <div class="stanza"> So you’ve waited to find you a wife, With a mind like your own, you say, But you’ll not find one so mean as that, If you wait till the Judgment Day.” </div> <div class="stanza"> Then I turned me about and left him Staring up at the silent stars, But I fancied I caught some swear words As I hurried over the bars. </div> <div class="stanza"> Sarah Ann, that’s all the offer This Aunt Jane of yours ever had; ’Tis as well, I’m content to live here With my own little bright-eyed lad. </div> <div class="stanza"> Yes, his mother died in the springtime— Here he comes with his hair all curled And face like a peach—now isn’t he The loveliest thing in the world! </div> </div></div> <ANTIMG src="images/deco.png" width-obs="25" alt="[Decorative image unavailable.]" /> <hr class="full" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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