Macon Beacon

Two or Them.

In the farm-house porch the farmer sat,
With his daughter having a cozy chat;
She was his only child, and he
Thought her as fair as a girl could be.
A wee bit jealous, the old man grew.
If he fancied any might come to woo;
His one ewe lamb and her loving care
He wished with nobody else to share.
"There should be two of you, child," said he—
There should be two to welcome me
When I come home from the field at night;
Two would make the old homestead bright.
There's Neighbor Grey, with his children four.
To be glad together. Had I one more,
A proud old father I'd be, my dear,
With two good children to greet me here"
Down by the gate, 'neath the old elm tree
Donald waited alone: and she
For whom he waited his love-call heard
And on either cheek the blushes stirred
"Father," said she, and knelt her down,
And kissed the hand that was old and brown
"Father, there may be two, if you will,
And I—your only daughter still.
"Two to welcome you home at night:
Two to make the old homestead bright;
I—and somebody else" "I see,"
Said the farmer; "and whom may 'somebody' be?
Oh, the dimples in Bessie's cheek,
That played with the blushes at hide-and-seek!
Away from his gaze she turned her head.
"One of Neighbor Grey's children," she said.
"H'm!" said the farmer: "make it plain;
Is it Susan, Alice, or Mary Jane?"
Another kiss on the aged hand.
To help the farmer to understand
"H'm!" said the farmer; "yes; I see
It is two for yourself and one for me."
But Bessie said "There can be but one
For me and my heart till life is done."