The Dream of the Quaker's Son
THE DREAM OF THE QUAKER’S SON
A Quaker preacher had a son
Who loved the banker's child
Impertinence and religious talk
Made the banker wild
Tenacious Hayes still loved Elaine
Politely asked her hand
Her father said that he’d agree
If Hayes could buy some land.
Determined Hayes planned
To earn his stake
He traveled night and day
Until he found a growing town---
Seemed a likely place to stay.
He worked his mule team---
train to train
Delivered tons of goods
And every week he told Elaine
He'd love her all he could.
Once each month he mailed the pack
He sealed each precious letter.
When they arrived, she saved them all
Delighted times seemed better
And suddenly two years had passed
Clinked the last coin in the box
He whistled as he hitched his mules
Ignored the hours of mud and rocks.
Just at dawn he jumped the curb
Black wreathes were on her door
He knocked ---and found his fair Elaine
Was on this earth no more
Without a word, he headed home
His brother was in the field
But he knew there were no words to say--
This pain could never heal
In his mind he saw her face.
Grabbed a rifle from the shelf
He shot his pair of finest mules
And then he shot himself
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