56 Old Days on the Farm 



Jes' loved that "Early Harvest" 



Better far 'n all the rest, 



Its branches helped me learn to walk, 



I played beneath its shade, 

 Its apples were so yellow, 

 So juicy an' so mellow, 

 An' jes' the finest grub fer boys the 



good Lord ever made. 



Couldn't git a dose o' colic. 

 So 'twas always fun an' frolic 

 When we met about that apple-tree 



with boyhood on the throne ; 

 If I had crowns to give away, 

 You could have 'em any day 

 Fer jes' one single golden hour of 



the life 'at I have known. 



At my sister Mary's weddin' 

 That ol' tree it stood a-sheddin' 

 Pink an' white cascades o' blossom 



down upon the happy pair; 

 It wuz one o' sister's fancies 

 To be wedded 'neath its branches — 

 Never wuz a purtier weddin' er a 



bride 'at wuz more fair. 



But th' fine ol' tree's a-dyin' , 

 An' I'm very near a-cryin' 

 When I get to thinkin' back upon 



the happy days o' yore — 

 If there's a harvest apple-tree 

 Where Dad an' Mother wait fer me. 

 In its shade I hope to meet 'em when 



I reach the other shore. 



