Jest me and Marg'et lives alone here--like in long ago; The childern 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 _oldest_ 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 _her_ 'way off to Idyho! I don't miss them like _Marg'et_ does--'cause I got _her_, you see; And when she pines for them--that's 'cause _she's_ only jest got _me_! 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 _dyin'_; but ef I Found I was only second-best when _us two_ come to die, I'd 'dopt the "new process" in full, ef _Marg'et_ died, you see,-- I'd jest crawl in my grave and pull the green grass over me! THE WAY IT WUZ Las' July--and, I persume, 'Bout as hot As the old Gran'-Jury room Whare they sot!-- Fight 'twixt Mike and Dock McGreff.... 'Pears to me jest like as ef I'd a-dremp' the whole blame thing-- Allus ha'nts me roun' the gizzard When they's nightmares on the wing And a feller's blood's jes' friz! Seed the row from A to Izzard-- 'Cause I wuz a-standin' as clos't to 'em As me and you is! Tell you the way it wuz-- And I don't _want_ to see, Like _some_ fellers does, When they's goern to be Any kind o' fuss-- On'y makes a rumpus wuss Fer to _interfere_ When theyr dander's riz-- Might as lif to _cheer_! But I wuz a-standin' as clos't to 'em As me and you is! I wuz kindo' strayin' Past the blame saloon-- Heerd some fiddler playin' That old "Hee-cup tune!" I'd _stopped_-like, you know, Fer a minit er so, And wuz jest about Settin' down, when--_Jeemses-whizz!_-- Whole durn winder-sash fell out! And thare laid Dock McGreff, and Mike A-straddlin' him, all bloody-like, And both a-gittin' down to biz!-- And I wuz a-standin' as clos't to 'em As me and you is!