(Kind o’ grief I understand,

Losin’ my companion,—and

Still a widower—and still

Hinted at, like neighbers will!)

So, app’inted, as folks said,

Ballenger a-bein’ dead,

Widder, ’peared-like, gradjully,

Jes grieved after him tel she

Died, nex’ Aprile wuz a year,—

And in Armazindy’s keer