Read to me many times by Mrs. Walters, my fifth grade teacher some 60 years ago. Why can't I find poem? Who wrote it???
Nice catch, Johnny.
Les
I am looking for the poem: Put-Off Town. Do you know author??? Where can I find it. It was read to me many times by my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Walters, some 50+ years ago
Put-Off Town
Have you ever been to Put-Off Town
where the houses are old and tumbled down,
and everything tarries and everything drags,
with dirty streets and people in rags?
On the street of Slow lives old man Wait
with his two little Boys named Linger and Late,
Johnny,
Yes. This is the Poem I was talking about. Yes. Yes. Yes. So, where is the rest of it. I got one stanza and two lines of the second. There is more. Where might it be?? And the author??? Where can I find the whole poem??
Sue - that's all that has been found - I've had it on my incomplete list for several years now, just the first 6 lines and we'd all be delighted if anyone could find the rest.
I too was looking for Put Off Town. I heard it from my pastor about 10 years ago. I finally found it and copied it for you here on this forum. It follows:
PUT-OFF TOWN
Did you ever go to Put-Off town,
Where the houses are old and tumble-down,
And everything tarries and everything drags,
With dirty streets and people in rags?
On the street of Slow lives Old Man Wait,
And his two little boys named Linger and Late ;
With unclean hands and tousled hair,
And a naughty little sister named I Don t Care.
Grandmother Growl lives in this town,
With her two little daughters called Fret and Frown ;
And Old Man Lazy lives all alone
Around the corner on Street Postpone.
Did you ever go to Put-Off town
To play with the little girls, Fret and Frown,
Or to the home of Old Man Wait,
And whistle for his boys to come to the gate?
To play all day in Tarry Street,
Leaving your errands for other feet ?
To stop or shirk, or linger, or frown,
Is the nearest way to this old town.
I sure hope this is the complete poem. God bless you all.
Love in Christ Jesus, David Landreeve
Thank you so much, David - I love poems like that and have been keeping an eye out for it myself and hoping someone would find the rest of it since the original discussion over 2 years ago.
David Landreeve,
THANK YOU SO MUCH for coming up the the full poem, Put-Off Town.
How absolutely wonderful. I can't thank you enough.
Do you know who wrote it? Did that person write other whimisical poetry like this?
Again, a million thanks,
Sue Ferdig
Hi Sue
I don't know who wrote Put-Off Town but I have a couple of similar poems in my collection which are along the same lines - may or may not be the same author - they probably came up , as I say they may all be the same person, or one have inspired the others - I think that the 'Don't You Worry' one may be the original and have inspired the others
GOSSIPTOWN
Gossip Town
Have you ever heard of Gossip Town
On the shores of falsehood Bay,
Where old Dame Rumor with rustling gown
Is going the livelong day?
It isn't far to Gossip Town,
For people who want to go.
The Idleness Train will take you down
In just an hour or so.
The Thoughtless Road is a popular route,
And most folks start that way,
But it's steep down grade;
If you don't watch out,
You'll land in Falsehood Bay.
You glide through the valley of Vicious Town
And into the tunnel of Hate;
Then crossing the Add-To Bridge, you walk
Right into the city gate.
The principal street is called, "They Say,"
"I've Heard" is the public well,
and the breezes that blow from Falsehood Bay
are laden with, "Don't You Tell."
In the midst of the town is Tell Tale Park.
You're never quite safe while there,
For its owner is Madame Suspicious Remark,
Who lives on the street, Don't Care.
Just back of the park is Slanders Row.
'Twas there that Good Name died
pierced by a dart from Jealousy's bow,
in the hands of Envious Pride.
From Gossip Town, peace long since fled,
But envy, and strife and woe
And sorrow and care, you find instead,
If ever you chance to go.
- Anon
Like many anonymous poems, there is more than one version of Gossiptown - I have two of this one, but they are essentially the same, and I think this is the best
TITLE: 'The Town Of Don't-You-Worry.'
There's A Town called Don't-You-Worry,
On the banks of River Smile;
Where the Cheer-Up and Be-Happy
Blossom sweetly all the while.
Where the Never-Grumble flower
Blooms beside the fragrant Try,
And the Ne'er-Give-Up and Patience
Point their faces to the sky.
In the valley of Contentment,
In the province of I-Will,
You will find this lovely city,
At the foot of No-Fret Hill.
There are thorofares delightful
In this very charming town,
And on every hand are shade trees
Named the Very-Seldom-Frown.
Rustic benches quite enticing
You'll find scattered here and there;
And to each a vine is clinging
Called the Frequent-Earnest-Prayer.
Everybody there is happy
And is singing all the while,
In the town of Don't-You-Worry,
On the banks of River Smile.
I. J. Bartlett.
Copyright 1936 DOUBLDAY.
I don't know who wrote Put-Off Town but I have a couple of similar poems in my collection which are along the same lines - may or may not be the same author - they probably came up , as I say they may all be the same person, or one have inspired the others - I think that the 'Don't You Worry' one may be the original and have inspired the others
Quote:Thanks for sharing.Landreeve
I too was looking for Put Off Town. I heard it from my pastor about 10 years ago. I finally found it and copied it for you here on this forum. It follows:
PUT-OFF TOWN
Did you ever go to Put-Off town,
Where the houses are old and tumble-down,
And everything tarries and everything drags,
With dirty streets and people in rags?
On the street of Slow lives Old Man Wait,
And his two little boys named Linger and Late ;
With unclean hands and tousled hair,
And a naughty little sister named I Don t Care.
Grandmother Growl lives in this town,
With her two little daughters called Fret and Frown ;
And Old Man Lazy lives all alone
Around the corner on Street Postpone.
Did you ever go to Put-Off town
To play with the little girls, Fret and Frown,
Or to the home of Old Man Wait,
And whistle for his boys to come to the gate?
To play all day in Tarry Street,
Leaving your errands for other feet ?
To stop or shirk, or linger, or frown,
Is the nearest way to this old town.
I sure hope this is the complete poem. God bless you all.
Love in Christ Jesus, David Landreeve
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/2010 04:55AM by athurart09.