236 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL 



The moon was setting in tlie West, 

 The sky was clear and blue, 



When a fruit-grower sought his needed rest, 

 But dreamed the whole night through. 



His mind was like the glass that hung 



Upon his parlor wall. 

 Past which his checkered hfe was swung — 



His ups and downs and all. 



His boyhood days passed quickly by; 



Then came his riper years, 

 When he looked a maiden in the eye 



And whispered in her ears. 



A tale of love did he unfold, 



To break her tender heart, 

 And they were joined as m days of old, 



Until death should them part. 



Then passed his later years of life — 



He saw them one hy one — 

 As he plowed and hoed the fertile soil, 



Till life was nearly done. 



He saw the insect tribes go by 



In rich and gorgeous train, 

 And smote them on the hip and thigh, 



With all his might and main. 



The cabbage-worm passed slowly by, 

 And moths were there so thick, 



He thought, and hove a painful sigh. 

 Could stir them with a stick. 



His thoughts of kraut had passed away. 



As he lay there on his bed, 

 His wakeful wife then heard him say, 



" I wish that I were dead." 



He heard the blue-jay loudly call 



Unto the feathered host, 

 And thought he said unto them all, 



" Of fruit I '11 eat the most." 



Then in his mind he packed his grip. 

 And sought the distant West, 



But after all he hung his lip. 



And cried, " The (Sucker State is best." 



ISTow honest friends, this much is true, 



1 care not where you are, 

 You cannot raise good crops of fruit 



Without a world of care. 



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