The Electric Railroad
They tell me  thet they're going ter run a sort
	o''lectric train
From Grand Rapids to Grand Haven, and oll
	cut across my lane.
I want yer all to hear me now, and harken t'all
	I say;
Fer if they try ter run that hi-fa-lu-tin thing
	my way,
I'll dynamite 'em certain, or in somehow do 'em
	harm, 
I wont have that 'ere lightnin' flashin' on my
	chicken farm.

Yer know that feller Dawkins that is farming
	by the mill ?
Jist ask him 'bout the lightnin', fer it struck
	his brother Bill,
And knocked the life right out o' him-laid him
	deader than a nail,
And then they think o' buyin it fer running on 
	a rail.
I kant see what's got in em, cause fer me ther
	ain't no charm,
I wont have that ere lightnin' flashin' on my 
	chicken farm.

I know its scientific an' some people think it
	smart,
Ter have the thing ter pull 'em, stead o' riden
	on a cart.
They say we "we mus' be stirrin', -an-'the
	scheme oll make a hit."
"We farmers is too old"-an-"the young mus'
	manage it."
I'm waitin' fer the'r hittin', an Ill raise a big
	 alarm
Ef enny of em try ter run across my chicken
	farm.

Why, the people oll be stricken, all the hosses
	run away,
The milk all gittin' sour, lightnin' makes it 
	spile that way.
The hands instead o' plowing, oll be ridin' on 
	the thing,
An' any amount o' trouble yer the pesky thing
	oll bring.
I tell you what I'm kickin' and oll raise my
	mighty arm,
If any of em try ter run acrost my chicken
	farm.
		--Henry Lippincott.

From The Coopersville Observer; Fri. Apr. 17, 1896