Dreams and Days: Poems by George Parsons Lathrop
page 60 of 143 (41%)
page 60 of 143 (41%)
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Mouth was black, perhaps;--but _he_ was white.
Calling gov'ment black don't seem polite: Yet I'll swear, its actions wouldn't show 'Longside Blackmouth's better 'n soot with snow. Yes, sir! Blackmouth took the other side: Honestly for years an' years he tried Getting justice for the Indians. He, Risking life an' limb for you an' me;-- He, the man who proved his good intent By his deeds, an' plainly showed he meant He would die for us,--turned round an' said: "White men have been saved. Now, save the red!" But it didn't pan out. No one would hark. "Let the prairie-dogs an' Blackmouth bark," Said our folks. And--no, he wa'n't resigned, But concluded he had missed his find. "_Where_ is Blackmouth?" That I can't decide. Red an' white men, both, he tried to serve; But I guess, at last, he lost his nerve. Kind o' tired out. See? He had his pride: Gave his life for others, far 's he could, Hoping it would do 'em some small good. Didn't seem to be much use. An' so-- Well; you see that man, dropped in the snow, Where the crowd is? Suicide, they say. Looks as though he had quit work, to stay. Bullet in the breast.--His _body_ 's there; But poor Blackmouth's gone--I don't know where! |
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