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 TRANSIENCE OF HANDS by KAREN SWENSON FRAGMENT ON DEATH by FRANCOIS VILLON LORD WALTER'S WIFE by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING NIGHTMARE, FR. IOLANTHE by WILLIAM SCHWENCK GILBERT CASEY AT THE BAT (1) by ERNEST LAWRENCE THAYER |