Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/74

58 With bonnets made of braided straw

That tied beneath the chin—

The shawls laid neatly on the neck,

And fastened with a pin.

"I recollect the time when I

Rode father's horse to mill

Across the meadow, rock and field,

And up and down the hill;

And when the folks were out at work,

As sure as I'm a sinner,

I jumped upon a bare-backed horse,

And carried them their dinner.

"Dear me, young ladies now-a-days

Would almost faint away

To think of riding all alone

In wagon, chaise or sleigh;

And as for giving Ta' his meals

Or helping 'Ma' to bake,

Oh, saints! 'twould spoil their lily hands,

Though sometimes they make cake.

"When winter came the maiden's heart

Began to beat and flutter;

Each beau would take his sweetheart out

Sleigh-riding in a cutter.

Or, if the storm was bleak and cold,

The girls and beaux together

Would meet, and have most glorious fun

Regardless of the weather.

"But now, indeed, it grieves me much,

The circumstance to mention.

However kind the young man's heart

And honest his intention,

He never asks the girls to ride,

But such a war is waged,

And if he sees her once a week —

Why, surely 'they are engaged.'"

Mrs. Lyons is supposed to have been the author of this poem.

The following was Mr. Lyons' first editorial: