JOKER JESS

Nov 20, 2013 by Gail Hatton

S: An’ then they made a song, but I don’t know it now.
Come all you hicks and lumber men Come listen unto me
A story I will tell you of
A logger’s treachery.
In the thirty first day of last September In the days of ’85
We left the camp with merry hearts And spirits all alive.
But little thoughts for Joker Jess That sent that [?] tree [?] (Sherman) [?] (Maggie)
We found that we had lost in him
A noble-hearted friend.
Too quick, too quick his comrades [?] That sent the [?] tree.
That crushed his body to the earth And set his spirit free.
So quick-lie round his comrades[?] stood While over his form did bend
We found that we had lost in him
A noble-hearted friend.
They picked him up all where he lie Smoothed back his wavy hair.
No kin with eyes looked down on him, But tears were glitterin’ there.
Be drenched no more in this false tear [?] We dreamt it as a dream
For his body lay alone at rest
Beneath [?] tree
That crushed his body to the earth And set his spirit free.