I have been trying to find out any information about Rev I.J.Bartlett since my last post about his poem ‘The Town of Don’t You Worry’ but have found absolutely nothing !!
But in my research, I have come across these two similarly written poems that I thought you might like to read….

PUT OFF TOWN

Did you ever go to Put Off town,
Where the houses are old and tumbledown,
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.

Author Unknown…………..

GOSSIP TOWN

Have you ever heard of Gossip Town
On the shores of falsehood Bay,
Where old Dame Rumour 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.

 Author Unknown

Till next time then…………