Part I. 

 Introduction. 



THE ARID WEST. 



Our fathers wrought to till the land 



By clearing off the forest grand. 



The lamd was poor,— they planted shad 



With every seed to make corn glad, 



Taking their cue of what to do 



From savage men they overthrew. 



And never could they understand 



That the Arid West is the promised land. 



