Explore "Circle Day" by Joseph C. Lincoln on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Me and Billy's in the woodshed; Ma said, "Run outdoors and play; / Be good boys and don't be both'rin', till the company's gone away. " / She and sister Mary's hustlin', settin' out the things for tea, / And the parlor's full of women, such a crowd you never see; / Every one a-cuttin' patchwork or a-sewin' up a seam, / And the way their tongues is goin', seems as if they went by steam. / Me and Billy's been a-listenin' and, I tell you what, it beats / Circus day to hear 'em gabbin', when the Sewin' Circle meets.
First they almost had a squabble, fightin' 'bout the future life; / When they'd settled that they started runnin' down the parson's wife. / Then they got a-goin' roastin' all the folks there is in town, / And they never stopped, you bet yer, till they'd done 'em good and brown. / They knew everybody's business and they made it mighty free, / But the way they loved _each other_ would have done yer good to see; / Seems ter me the only way ter keep yer hist'ry off the streets / Is to be on hand a-waitin' when the Sewin' Circle meets.