The Blood of Rachel; a dramatization of Esther, and other poems

Excerpt: ...to hear of early days- The wildcat and the panther, the redman's sneaking ways; The bravery of our fathers, the scalping knife and gun, The courage of the women folks; I tell you, boys, 'twas fun. We roasted sweet potatoes and we talked of Marion's men, How they routed all the redcoats, or slew them in the fen. We learned to love our country and we swore to tell the truth, And do no deed of treachery and never act uncouth; To guard the honor of our name, and shield a virtuous home, To read the Proverbs and the Psalms and love the sacred tome. I know our home was humble then-rag carpet on the floor- But the stranger found a welcome there, the latch-string on the door. The well-sweep and the woodpile and the ox team in the shed, Dried apples hung around the walls, and pumpkins overhead- 81 Not sanitary, I'll admit, nor stylish-like, nor rich, But health and comfort and content; now tell me, which is which? Then who can blame me that I love the good old dog iron days, When men had hearts and character that fortune couldn't faze; The years before the slitted skirts and the Turkish cigarettes, When women wove their linsey clothes instead of devilish nets; When children did the chores at night, nor ever heard of gym, Or movements such as boy scouts, yet kept in health and trim. We spent our evenings all at home, and read and sang and played, Or talked of work and feats of strength, or what our crops had made; And when we mentioned quilting bees and apple-peeling time, We had in mind our sweethearts and we sometimes made a rhyme: 'Twas then I read my future in the embers and the blaze, And this is why I celebrate the good old dog iron ways. 82 THE AGE ELECTRIC The glory of the good old days has passed from earth away, The lumbering loom, the spinning wheel, Maud Muller raking hay; The old rail fence, the moldboard plough, the scythe and reaping hook, Corn shuckings, and Virginia reel, and young folks' bashful look. Now poor old...