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Poem
June 9, 1824
Palladium Of Virginia And The Pacific Monitor
Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
Humorous narrative of a content rustic farmer whose growing family creates financial cares; he solves a 'subtraction' riddle to win a cow from his master by explaining family increase.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
ORATION BY SUBTRACTION.
A Rustic, bred in country life,
Had pass'd remote from noise and strife.
The morning of his day:
Mid flow'ry meads, and fertile fields,
Where nature in profusion yields
Her stores of corn and hay.
To luxury or want estranged,
He plough'd the soil, or woodland ranged,
His nervous limbs braved all fatigue
Or reap'd the golden corn;
No sleepless nights, no foul intrigue,
Disturb'd his thoughts of morn.
When seated round the cheerful fire,
His wife and prattling babes conspire
To cheer his winter's night;
Content he then felt happier far
Than does the hero in the war.
Who gain'd the sanguin fight
But anxious thoughts invade his mind.
He feels with his own wants entwined.
The want of others grow;
A rising family now share
His daily bread, and meddling care
Sits heavy on his brow.
One winter's day, when thrashing corn,
Alone he thought, within the barn,
Well fill'd with cares his head:
Perplex'd, and in a thoughtful mood,
Upon his flail staff leaning stood.
And to himself he said:
"From two take one, and three remain.
From two take two, and more the gain;
And three from two leave five:
If this goes on, my master's cow
Will ne'er get paid to that I know,
While her or I's alive."
The master, unperceived, was near,
And did, with due attention hear
This strange conclusion drawn;
Not comprehending by what rule
They were produced, for he at school
Had ne'er such problems known.
"What rule is that," said he to John,
"You found these propositions on?"
Says John "Subtraction, Sir."
"Prove that," says Hodge, "and as I live,
To thee the cow I'll freely give,
Ere from this spot I stir."
"Four years ago, my wife and I
Were bound by Wedlock's sacred tie.
None were more blest than we;
And ere the second year begun,
These arms embraced my first born son,
Then one from two made three
Another year roll'd o'er my head.
My wife again was brought to bed,
Thus two from two made four;
'Twas then the cow to me you sold,
Which has been worth her weight in gold,
And is so to this hour.
Another son in one year more,
Increased my stock of living store;
Thus three from two made five."
"The cow is thine," said Hodge to John,
"I freely own she's fairly won:
Long may she live and thrive
A Rustic, bred in country life,
Had pass'd remote from noise and strife.
The morning of his day:
Mid flow'ry meads, and fertile fields,
Where nature in profusion yields
Her stores of corn and hay.
To luxury or want estranged,
He plough'd the soil, or woodland ranged,
His nervous limbs braved all fatigue
Or reap'd the golden corn;
No sleepless nights, no foul intrigue,
Disturb'd his thoughts of morn.
When seated round the cheerful fire,
His wife and prattling babes conspire
To cheer his winter's night;
Content he then felt happier far
Than does the hero in the war.
Who gain'd the sanguin fight
But anxious thoughts invade his mind.
He feels with his own wants entwined.
The want of others grow;
A rising family now share
His daily bread, and meddling care
Sits heavy on his brow.
One winter's day, when thrashing corn,
Alone he thought, within the barn,
Well fill'd with cares his head:
Perplex'd, and in a thoughtful mood,
Upon his flail staff leaning stood.
And to himself he said:
"From two take one, and three remain.
From two take two, and more the gain;
And three from two leave five:
If this goes on, my master's cow
Will ne'er get paid to that I know,
While her or I's alive."
The master, unperceived, was near,
And did, with due attention hear
This strange conclusion drawn;
Not comprehending by what rule
They were produced, for he at school
Had ne'er such problems known.
"What rule is that," said he to John,
"You found these propositions on?"
Says John "Subtraction, Sir."
"Prove that," says Hodge, "and as I live,
To thee the cow I'll freely give,
Ere from this spot I stir."
"Four years ago, my wife and I
Were bound by Wedlock's sacred tie.
None were more blest than we;
And ere the second year begun,
These arms embraced my first born son,
Then one from two made three
Another year roll'd o'er my head.
My wife again was brought to bed,
Thus two from two made four;
'Twas then the cow to me you sold,
Which has been worth her weight in gold,
And is so to this hour.
Another son in one year more,
Increased my stock of living store;
Thus three from two made five."
"The cow is thine," said Hodge to John,
"I freely own she's fairly won:
Long may she live and thrive
What sub-type of article is it?
Riddle
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Rustic Farmer
Subtraction Riddle
Family Growth
Cow Debt
Rural Contentment
Poem Details
Title
Oration By Subtraction.
Subject
A Rustic's Arithmetic Puzzle On Family Growth And Debt
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
"From Two Take One, And Three Remain.
From Two Take Two, And More The Gain;
And Three From Two Leave Five:"
"Four Years Ago, My Wife And I
Were Bound By Wedlock's Sacred Tie.
None Were More Blest Than We;
And Ere The Second Year Begun,
These Arms Embraced My First Born Son,
Then One From Two Made Three
"The Cow Is Thine," Said Hodge To John,
"I Freely Own She's Fairly Won:
Long May She Live And Thrive