Teach him for to proclaim Salvation to the folks; No occasion give for any blame, Nor wicked people's jokes.
And so it goes on, but I guess I won't stop to say the rest on now, seein' there's seven and forty verses.
Parson Potter and his wife was wonderfully pleased with it; used to sing it to the tune o' Haddem. But I was gwine to tell the one I made in relation to husband; it begins as follers:--
He never jawed in all his life, He never was unkind,-- And (tho' I say it that was his wife) Such men you seldom find.
(That's as true as the Scripturs; I never knowed him to say a harsh word.)
I never changed my single lot,-- I thought 't would be a sin--
(though widder Jinkins says it's because I never had a chance.) Now 't ain't for me to say whether I ever had a numerous number o' chances or not, but there 's them livin' that _might_ tell if they wos a mind to; why, this poitry was writ on account of being joked about Major Coon, three year after husband died. I guess the ginerality o' folks knows what was the nature o' Major Coon's feelin's towards me, tho' his wife and Miss Jinkins _does_ say I tried to ketch him. The fact is, Miss Coon feels wonderfully cut up 'cause she knows the Major took her "Jack at a pinch,"--seein' he couldent get such as he wanted, he took such as he could get,--but I goes on to say--
I never changed my single lot, I thought 't would be a sin,-- For I thought so much o' Deacon Bedott, I never got married agin.
If ever a hasty word he spoke, His anger dident last, But vanished like tobacker smoke Afore the wintry blast.
And since it was my lot to be The wife of such a man, Tell the men that's after me To ketch me if they can.
If I was sick a single jot, He called the doctor in--
That's a fact,--he used to be scairt to death if anything ailed me. Now only jest think,--widder Jinkins told Sam Pendergrasses wife (she 'twas Sally Smith) that she guessed the deacon dident set no great store by me, or he wouldent a went off to confrence meetin' when I was down with the fever. The truth is, they couldent git along without him no way. Parson Potter seldom went to confrence meetin', and when he wa' n't there, who was ther, pray tell, that knowed enough to take the lead if husband dident do it? Deacon Kenipe hadent no gift, and Deacon Crosby hadent no inclination, and so it all come on Deacon Bedott,--and he was always ready and willin' to do his duty, you know; as long as he was able to stand on his legs he continued to go to confrence meetin'; why, I've knowed that man to go when he couldent scarcely crawl on account o' the pain in the spine of his back. He had a wonderful gift, and he wa' n't a man to keep his talents hid up in a napkin,--so you see 't was from a sense o' duty he went when I was sick, whatever Miss Jinkins may say to the contrary. But where was I? Oh!--