tPS 3537 .n263 C5 1908 Copy 1 Gbilb 2)ialect IDerse — "B^ BDelaiDe iPugb Smitb Child Dialect Verse* By /Idclaide Pu£|b Smith. COPYRIGHTED, 1908. BY ADELAIDE PUGH SMITH. }UBa,^RY of CUNGSEG3 \ wo eooies Heceivee JUL 6 1S08 St;usfe/4 xxc. p;^ 2L// iqs COPY 3. T5 3J^7 To the many dear little children. Whose loVe or the memory of Whose loVe is sWeet to me. i proem. c HILDREN, gather 'round my knee,- Let your merry voices be The only magic needed to Call up mem'ries dear and true; Take the tribute offered you In these simple little rhymes Bright with light of bygone times, — When I, as each of you, a child Gathered blossoms, sweet and wild. By life's stains all undefiled. m Y Pa is a doctur, an' I heard some un say 'At he is ist the goodest man 'Cause he'd go night er day To wait on folks 'at 's poor an' sick, An' never takes no pay ! When I told him what they said He took me on his knee, An' tol' me 'at sech debts 'uz paid In coin 'at none could see, An' deep down in th' heart 'twus kep'- " Th' best kind of a fee ! " TOben ^omm^ l^oun^ (Bot %OBt ft^* t^*^ t^^ ui HEN Tommy Young got lost, — Wuzn't they a' awful fuss ! They ist hunted ever'whur Far an' near ! An' Tommy's ma 'uz Purt near goin' crazy, 'cause She wuz ist sure, she said, He'd gone down t' th' river An' failed in an' wuz dead ! An' all the woods around Ist wuz scoured — but nothin' found ! All the bells 'uz rung, an' when Most all th' town 'uz runnin' 'bout Tommy he come slippin' out Frum their own front parlur door : — He'd been beneath th' sofy A-sleepin' on th' floor ! $ Content «^ e^ e^ OMETIMES I wisht I wuz a boy So's I could learn t' swim ; An' ride a horse, an' dim' tall trees, An' do purt near it whut I please, An' be as brave as him ! But when it's got right good and dark An' time is come to curl In my Ma's arm an' have her hug Me close t' her so warm an' snug I'm glad nen I'm a girl ! u 4^* e^*' e^* S folks has got a neighbor, an' She's awful funny, too ! 'Cause ever' time 'at she runs in She alius tells us whur she's been Er whut she's got t' do ! When Ma she asts her t' set down She's purt near sure t' say, "Dear me ! I cain't ! My floors aim swep'; I do declare 'at I'm jes' kep' A-diggin' th' hull day ! " It's dig, dig, dig, mornin' till night, Tell I'm jes' played clean out ! I've got t' go an' make a cake, I've got t' churn, there's bread t' bake, I oughtn't be about!" An' nen she'll set an' talk, an' talk 'Bout ever'one we know, An' tells th' same things over 'gain Some more till Ma she wonders when She really means t' go ! ^ING a song of play-time, All join in : Merriment and May-time, Raise a rousing din ! Jollity and June fun In the summer weather; July's merry hours that run Laughing off together ! Apple trees thro' August days Bright with happy faces, That September's sparkling haze Finds in schoolroom places. u 'mnclc 3Wq Best (3irL t^ •5*' «^ NCLE Jim's best girl is ist awful sweet ! Bet anything 'at she can't be beat ! Purtiest eyes an' purtiest curls, Purtiest one uv all his girls ! An' my goodness sakes! Uncle Jim's rooms Ist full uv girls' pictures, and two albums ! — Guess he likes Miss Rena the best 'Cause she's lots the sweetest and purtiest ! (Boin* Barefoot «^ «^ t^ ^ELL you whut, I like t' go ^ Barefoot in th' summer, tho'. My Ma she never lets me none; — She don't care ef it is fun : Says I'm too big, — she likes t' see How much a lady I can be ! But wunst, when Ma had gone one day, An' I knowed 'at she 'ud stay Tell late, I slipped my shoes off, an' Stockin's, too, an' it wuz grand ! — Tell a bee stinged me, an' nen I couldn't get 'em on again ! inncle 3tm'0 Mair treatment, 4^*' •5*' t^* m Y Uncle Jim's a' awful tease ! Bet you'd say so, too, ef he 'uz 'Round you wunst, an' pulled your curls Like he says is good fer girls ! He alius says 'at why Ma's hair Is so long, is he took care Uv it so 's it had t' grow. Bet she didn't like it tho' ! An' Uncle Jim, he says 'at I Mus'n' never try t' cry When he pulls my curls, becuz Nen' they'll grow as nice as Ma's ! after Ibearino *'aiabbtn/^ e^* t^^ t^* ^F I 'uz changed t' you, ' An you 'uz changed to me, I tell you whut we'd haf t' do ! We'd haf t' wish 'ith might an' main Fer Aladdin's ol' tin lamp t' rub So's t' get changed back again ! m ^^ (^* t^f UNST Mrs. Adams, my Ma's friend, She spent the day 'ith us; An' brung her little boy along 'Cause he'd a-made a fuss Ef she'd left him home, she said ; So me an' Freddie went t' play While they both visited. He's awful funny, Freddie is — An' does things ist so quick ! Went fishin' in our big rain-bar'l On a box, 'ith a long stick Fer Wiggletails, an' he ist leant 'Way over it, so's he could see An' splash ! Down in he went ! I grabbed his legs, an' called fer Ma, An' she ist yanked him out 'Ith rivers streamin' off uv him 'Fore he knowed whut she wuz 'bout ! But he'd ist spoilt th' water — Couldn't use it none, I guess, Since Freddie took a bath in it 'Ithout stoppin' t' undress ! cu Cbtlbboob's ambitions. t^** t^* t^* HEN I grow big, I'm goin' t' be A school teacher, — you wait an* see Ef you don't believe it ! Nen All the little childern, they Won't haf to' do a thing but play ! Er, — maybe I'll clerk in a store Whur they keep choclut drops, an' whur They have ice cream all year 'round, An' ever'thing else 'at's good an' sweet, So's nen I'll get all I can eat ! Mben tbe (Talf Cbewe^ jfrebMe'e Sbtrt* 9^^ 1^* t^^ iU HEN Freddie Adams got all wet That time in our rain-bar'l, they Hung his clothes out on th' line An' dressed him up in some o' mine, An ' sent him out t' play ! We had th' cutest little calf Then as could be ! He'd ist do The funniest things right straight along, — Didn't matter ef 'twuz wrong, Ef he ist wanted to ! An' he got out the lot that day ! Don't know how he managed to — But he wuz lookin' fer some fun : Them clothes hung there, an' up he run, An' ist begun to chew ! He pulled an' hauled at 'em tell he Got 'em all down in the dirt, Tramped over 'em an' dragged 'era 'round Then left th' rest there on th' ground While he chewed Freddie's shirt ! We found him, — but 'twuz too late. All that shirt wuz gone inside 'Cept ist some rags ! An' when He had t' wear a dress home, nen That Freddie Adams cried ! D f^r^ e5^ tS^ ARLING child, who lured me to Gleeful plays and fancies new Still abiding with me, tho' Ne'er can I the blessing know Of thy earthly presence dear : — Art thou happier there than here? Canst thou feel the love from me Lavished on thy memory? Sltbin* 'Bovon the 'Bmmteve. e^*' c^* *^^ UNST when we wuz all alone, — Ma an' Auntie Jane both gone, — My Uncle Jim, he showed me how To slide down th' banusters ! An' we ist had th' mostest fun ! I 'ud slide an' Uncle 'd run T' ketch me 'fore I hit th' floor, Nen I'd go an' slide some more Down th' banusters ! Yes, an' Uncle, he slid too ! Don't you wisht 'at it wuz you ? How awful funny he did look, Slidin' down th' banusters : — 'Cause his long legs they would strike More 'an anybody 'd like. 'Nless he held way up high, — Nen you bet he'd more 'an fly Down th' banusters ! Yes, an' Uncle lifted me On his shoulder, an' nen he Ist clum th' stairs, an' way we went Slidin' down th' banusters ! But jes' before we hit th' floor Ma she opened up th' door, An' she ist thought 'at it was fun Tell I said I'd slid alone Down th' banusters ! Nen my Ma she scolded him, 'Cause she said 'at Uncle Jim He oughm't show me how t' go Slidin' down th' banusters ; — Yes, an' nen she scolded me — Said she wanted me t' be 1st ladylike, — no lady tried Ma she said t' ever slide Down th' banusters. Nen my Uncle Jim he said They'd look funny ef they did : But little girls ist looked alright Slidin' down th' banusters : An' he said 'at Ma's mem'ry Wuzn't long as it might be Er it 'ud reach back t' th' days When they had some jolly plays Down th' banusters ! Nen Ma grinned, but said 'at she Didn't want sech things teached me — We mustn't go no more, she said, — Slidin' down th' banusters. Nen Uncle Jim he said 'at she Needn't fear 'at she 'ud see Us slide no more — but when Ma's gone Nen you bet we have some fun Sailin' down th* banusters ! Cbrt0tmas 2)efinet)« ^f ^^ ^* CHRISTMAS : Day of dear delights, Filling childish dreams for nights ! Candies, presents, joys and toys, Happy girlies, merry boys ! Jollity supreme, and life Glowing with the brightness rife ! m 1^^ <5^ B^^ ONDER who us two 'ud be Ef you wuzn't you, and I wuzn't me ? An' whut 'ud all our folksus do Ef I wuzn't me, an' you wuzn't you ? ^^^ ^f ^3* LAS' winter, when 'twuz purt' near spring They come a big snow. Ever' thing Wuz froze up solid, 'twuz so cold. My Pa he hired a sleigh that day An' took us fer a ride, 'way Out o' town 1 Ma sat in th' seat 'Ith Pa, and I wuz at their feet On a little footstool, so Jus' my head stuck out. An' oh ! 'Twuz cold, but I was wrapped up so 'At Ma she laughed an' called me her Little Eskimo in fur ! Nen Pa laughed, an' said 'at she Looked like one as much as me ! Jus' then a man drove by, Pa knew, An' says " W'y, hello Doc ! That you ? Wondered who it could be so Bloomin' like a' Eskimo ! " 3 ^5* e^^ ^^ UST a gleam of sunshine thro' your day, Just a constant source of wonderment and joy,- Just a bit of Heaven, sent your way, — That's your baby, — be it girl or be it boy. flDarian'0 Xament. ^^ ft5^ c^^ I 1ST want a baby brother ' Worse'n anything ! 1st ever' other Little girl in town's got one But me, purt' near, an' I ain't got none. An' them little girls declares 'At my own Pa brung um theirs ! That seemed kind o' funny, when He knowed I want one worse'n them ;- An' I told him so, an' he Said they wuzn't none for me, — 'At God He sent 'um down addressed 1st like letters, where 'twuz best. Wonder whut I ever done 'At God He can't spare me ist one? a IRoneense Jingle. e^w (3* «5^ THE Frizzle-de-froos 9 From the land of hoodoos, Went sailing away in a fleet of old shoes Out into the bay Where the sea-urchins play And 'neath purple billows the devil-fish stray ; O, their deep crimson eyes Which would sink back, then rise, Filled all the dried herring with mighty surprise ! Whenever a glance Shot past them by chance They each had a fit of St. Vitus' dance. And a frolicsome oyster Far famed as a royster Gasped with fright until the salt moisture Caused him to strangle, and his windpipe to mangle, He feared that they wanted his pearls for a bangle ! All the burfishes fleet Made a landscape most sweet, By swelling all up at the explorer's feet. A most awful commotion Pervaded the ocean And the inmates were seized with religious devotion When the Frizzle-de-froos Made their debuts In their elegant crafts, on their venturous cruise : But an undaunted whale Whom nothing could quail Made a charge at them, his tail for a sail, And he ushered them in Where Jonah had been, Though they clamored and howled and raised a wild din ! He would take no excuse Nor give heed to their prayers to ' just let us loose ! " So endeth the tale of the Frizzle-de-froos Who sailed out to sea in a fleet of old shoes ! (5brl0tma0* ^^^ c5* c^^ 'SPECT ol' Santy Claus is ist A hustlin' 'round today, An' packin' ever'thing ist tight An' good in his big sleigh — For tomorrow will be Chris'mus Eve An' you'd ist better bet 'At us three childern's wonderin' What all we're goin to get. I'm here at Gra'ma's house, an' both My cousins is here too ; An' we wuz 'fraid 'at Santy Claus Might not know whut to do When he'd not find our stockin's home, An' maybe he 'ud go An' give our things to some un else Close 'round 'at we 'ud know ! I felt 'most sure 'at Alice Blake 'Ud get my lovely doll. An' Tommy groaned and said he 'ud bet His gun 'd go to Paul, 'At lives next door to him, and Maud She pretty near it cried For fear her chum 'ud get her wheel, An' she'd not learn to ride. I tol my Pa 'bout it ; I knowed 'At he could help us out ! He said to write to Santy Claus An' tell him all about Who we all wuz, an' he'd ist bet Our things ud reach us straight, An' not to worry bout it none But ist be calm an' wait. We wrote a letter, an' my Pa He mailed it for us, an' He put th' 'dress all on it, too ; "or Santy Claus," it ran, " North Pole, in care of Boreas." Now whut you s'pose that meant ? Nen took it clear downtown hisself So's to be sure it went. An' so we know 'at we're alright, 'Cause Santy'll know to come Out here t' Gra'ma's when he fin's 'At none of us ain't home. An' nen I'll have my dolly sure, An' Tom he'll have his gun. An' Maud '11 have her wheel, an' nen We'll all of us have fun ! H-(5uttin' paper DoIl6» t^*' ^^ <^^ OMETIMES I get th' Fashion-books 'At Ma is done with, an' The scissors, an' I go upstairs Out o' th' way 'most anywheres An' cut out paper dolls.! It litters things up purty bad But Ma don't ever care Ef I'm a-havin' fun ; an' you All know 'at that's not hard to do A-cuttin' paper dolls. I can cut dresses easy, but It's diff'runt 'ith a face, 'Cause my ol' scissors slips an' goes An' takes th' end all ofiE a nose When I cut paper dolls. But that don't hurt th' dollie none, Ef it does spoil her looks, 'Cause she don't know, and she can't care ; An' I purtend 'at it's all there When I play paper dolls ! m flnnocence, ^3* ^M c^* AXEN eyelids folded over baby eyes, Little curls of gold that stray O'er the baby forehead in a 'wildering array ; On the baby lips a smile Like its guardian angel's kiss : Every peaceful breath revealing Heaven vsrithin it, more than this. D (3oo\)cve. t^^ C^* 9^^ O you like peanuts ? What you think ? My Ma says 'at when She wuz a little girl down South They called 'em goobers then ; An' down in their big garden where Ever'thing most grew They planted peanuts in the ground An' raised their goobers too ! R tS* e^* ft^* OCK-A-BYE, hush-a-bye, drift into rest Mother's sweet baby, your head on her breast ; Lend your pink ear to sea fairies' beguiling, Send your wee shallop among them a-smiling ! Rock-a-bye, hush-a-bye, glide all the night O'er mystic waters with rainbows alight : While, at your side, float the fairies along Tinting your dreams with their lullaby song. jUi 6 * 9V)£- LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 018 393 570^7^^