I will try to post verbatim from the original copy that I have in front of me. It is not easy as his use of the language is odd and his typewrite had a habit of only partially printing some letters. Oh well, here goes............. COLUMN ONE Astir the pine in sombre lay. 'Twas a barmy autumn night, -and a-godly lot was there that oversaw Joe's bar-room, as Court on the square: And as song in wit as story ekes of oaken door, a vagabond stept lowly in asken on the floor: As someone, "ha" where's it from? Wind's blown it in: what does want? whiskey! rum or gin? See, Tobe! sic! Joe's can do the work I wouldn't touch with a fork: it's fetid as a Turk! "As barinage the myscreant took in static grace intact, as one of place, and doting lowas embers fall nods in turn cesret call: and Joe growls at hackman late, but heightens glee as glass to brim, as judge and jury wait: yet naught of tort pays to goad or hurl at pine beside the road, -as onesays, "he's clean..a gentleman too! who knows of scar(?) Joe, look in-side down'ur throat! Men Tom's hard: thousands bad but sees-' neith the coat the man. . "Yes Tom- tis so of a burly crowd: such on turn would make the deacon proud: a-dram I want, hardly fixed for snow; when as yore Bob was never slow; what! ascur as if or not this wallet had a-sou; once was up who knows as any one of you there: thanks; good! rock-n-rye; helps me some..God bless you all; perchance again would call; night, -goodnight, cold! what, a song(?) no, can't do that..singin days past; voice cracked! throat's worn! lungs are going fast; says a snook..and what'd do..a punny tale as ever knew; that I was any 'count,-who'd think(?) but 20 years back! turn a drink; fill- er-up Joe, want some life in my frame; such to "C" are miserly tame! there, five fingers the stuff and cracking whiskey too; well, here's and landlord, same to you-set down! U've used me well and won't blame as tell an- howas Joe and broken now. Once was a man of calling name and health..and but for gamble ought 've won fame as wealth; was a painter, not on brigand wood, but of Florence as alpine neighborhood wept at my canvas a mystcreant of dispise in the halo-heights of Switzerland on the winds of paradise! COLUMN TWO Made a picture few have seen..the Chaise of Fame:-fetched 1500 francs at Monte Carlo game; then a woman hear the stunning start, with eyes that turned my brain as life of art: not a nudess of garden-role, or stone, nor naughty, but an ideal soul: So changed-strange that a vagabond should love, seems wrong.. but 'tis so was ever neat and love was given, and in her ruby lips and mine..O God: 'twas heaven: -Ever see of pine for..own would give(?) of form as Goddess Vebus, too worshipful to live..and eyes afar in lays of raven jet hair? So! "twas she an '-never-'nother! Half so fair. I was groping at my canvass, out a task of shadow lay off Joe's tintype by mother at midnight sun as day..and own makes of it in toss of covet-prize ..and acts in accent of it and, such! dreamy eyes. Was't long for in the curfew moan Joe sat by her and I was left alone; and in the year of misery and ache of heart the jewel of my soul tales of pine as dead. 'Tis the story; but scarce a turn or smile..felt might be aver as something mean or vile; and what's wrong Tom, a tear..a-sigh(?) Ha, laugh.. but woman's cry! Say Joe, a -brace, and I'll feel better..glad, and draw right here in memory, the one that drove me mad-fetch the char you mark the whiskey score and see.. her face in fancy on the bar-room floor. So ashen alway as nun affright; and clarion as volunteer choir or person of mistook right; O image divine at pillow-pane as wont..and rogueishly shy, she comes in her girlish-caress and accent of solace goodbye. Who knows maybe I was at fault, and blind to tear, as sigh as sage of Mona Lisa wrought in Bob so bad as I!" Another as wil-o'clock dram..and knelt with char askan at sketch of one might stir the soul of any man: then a truant memory lock ..in accent low, "Madgelene" thou mistook one! struggles to rise and with cry as phantom of dread.. leaps as in her arms forgiven; and fell on the picture dead. To the best of my abilities this is the exact way it appears on this paper that is dated 1872 and is signed in ink by John Henry Titus. If anyone would like a photo of this, please let me know.
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