PS 3523 
 .E318H6 
 
 1905 
 
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By E'.I/AURBNCE' LE/E^ 
 
 is 
 
 R.A.MASTERS 
 
 525D1ARBORNAYE. 
 CHICAGO 
 
 — — M.CMV. 
 
I LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
 Two Copies Received 
 
 DEC 7 1905 
 
 .^ Copyrismt Entry 
 
 cuss a xxc. No 
 
 COPY B, _4 
 
 
 n 
 
 Copyright, 1905, 
 By R. a. Masters 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 To My Mother 8 
 
 Old Sycamore Bend 11 
 
 Death of Summer 12 
 
 Ages and Ages 15 
 
 Jason's Farewell to Town 16 
 
 To Ben King 19 
 
 The Rose of Time . 20 
 
 The Old House Up the Creek 23 
 
 In Venus' Steps 26 
 
 Old Raid, "White 'n Blue . . . . . . . . . 28 
 
 "What's in a Name ? 31 
 
 Queen of Queens 32 
 
 A Question 33 
 
 Life's Joker 33 
 
 The Skule Trustee 34 
 
 At Barney's 36 
 
 Don't Keer 38 
 
 Ef I uz Pres'dent 40 
 
 De Muel Blowed Fust 41 
 
 Hank 42 
 
 At Last 44 
 
 My Pythias 45 
 
 Our Riley 46 
 
 Queenly Babe 48 
 
 Butterfly's in tne Milky-"Way 48 
 
 Barefooted Youth 51 
 
 Old Evergreen 55 
 
 Jim and Ma ............ 56 
 
 Drifting 61 
 
 Ye Actor Man 63 
 
TO MY MOTHEMi 
 

o •- ^ -^ 
 
 ./^ ^>' 
 
 pl(^ Syceqnorc Bend 
 
 here the golden sun dips into untold space. 
 And the sentinel bluffs turn gold, 
 •am reading again in Miami's old face 
 j A^^mirror'd youth of old. 
 So I sink 'neath the spell of memory sweet 
 
 Tp the bank, ^d follow the trend 
 
 Of the song Miami is singing complete, 
 
 To old Nature at Sycamore Bend. 
 
 ^'^ere the sheidpokes qwak 'neath the sunflow'rs bloom, 
 And the pelican wades the stream, 
 Where the riffles join in the grand old tune. 
 And butterflys pause ta dream, 
 VVhile the birds in the trees near old Butter-nut spring 
 Are cracldng their throats in sweet blend. 
 And silently nodding the wild flowers fling 
 Sweet perfume 'roimd Sycamore Bend. 
 
 Sing on, old Miami, the song of my soul, 
 
 I'll listen and listen till night 
 Softly blankets your murmuring roll, 
 
 And Nature to nest takes its flight 
 Your shadows slant off to a grave and a spot 
 
 Deep in Woodland. Your song's at an end. 
 
 And I'm wand'ring again, with tears burning hot, 
 
 LAway from old Sycamore Bend. 
 
 11 
 
Jedtfi ^i/mmer 
 
 e maple launched her ferry-boat leaves ;. 
 The zephyrs a requiem read; 
 --V^ ; The golden sun smiled a smile that grieves; 
 
 The trees moaned, Queen Summer is dead. 
 September sighed, and her chilling tears 
 • Bathed the lily pads left to dream. 
 
 And kissing to quiet- the sunflow'rs fears, 
 Charged him sentinel o'er the stream. 
 From a watch-tower high in Nature's crown 
 A night-bird rose to sing, , • ' 
 His last note wailed the tidings down, . ■ ' ' 
 Dawn crowned the Autiimn king. . • • ' 
 
 \% 
 
.^ 
 
 QJ 
 
 jiere the restless, rolling, pounding sea. 
 ^^^feii^r^^ Lashes its water to foam. 
 
 By the firm old rock where the sea-gulls flock, 
 
 The sad wind wailed a mosji. 
 After all these ages and ages of years. 
 
 Will rest never come to thee ? 
 My breast bears the burden of lovers' tears, 
 Groaned back the troubled sea. 
 
 The wind shrieked loud in agony wild, 
 
 Must ever ye know that pain? 
 Then the firm old rock where the sea-gulls flock. 
 
 Frowned ever and. ever again. 
 Sobbing, the wind murmured cease thy roll, 
 
 I'll dry lovers' tears for thee. 
 But you never can rest the poor suicide's soul, 
 
 Thunder' d back the angry sea. 
 
 What not of the world moan'd the howling wind, 
 
 But burthens thy restless wave? 
 Then the firm old rock where the sea-gulls flock. 
 
 Frowned earth where it mounds o'er graves. 
 Then up thro' the blue took the wind his flight. 
 
 Where the black clouds tum'd to flee. 
 The warm sun-kiss' d lovers tears until night. 
 
 Soothed to rest the surging sea. — ^:i- 
 
 RS 
 
 15 
 
'ginn me th' da)^ on the ole stumpy farm, 
 In a Idntry thet's meas'ly an' skimp, ^ I 
 ;Wfier' even th' weeds didn't do enny harm, 
 
 On'y lay in th* sun weak an' limp. 
 ^P^ilsjs I'm mighty nigh fagged in this hurryin' place, 
 
 An' my limgs is cellars uv coal, " 
 
 .While th' hank'rin to see th' ole sun's face 
 grZ' —•- Ez a knawin' a hole i 
 
 'Y, evS thlgrunt uv a razor-back hog 
 
 'Ud be music to my ears. 
 An' th' welcome I'd ginn to th' bark o' a dog '■^ 
 
 'Ud open a well uv tears. 
 Fur I've come ter "blieve I've got tew much heal^ 
 
 'Sides I reckon I'm in th' way 
 Uv yer hus'tling, bus'tlin' race fur wealth, ^' 
 V'iJi^?^ep!-theEv,hain^'y^iifE'room ftir sTjay.''^^" 
 
 I_ reckon I'll mozie back'to'rds hum, 
 
 Git a leetle more breathin' room, " '""- - 
 
 IThout dim' in' a ladder nine miles thew th' scum, 
 
 fir^Wot's wallin' a jail fur th' moon. \^^ -^ ^ 
 
 ISp^so long ole noisy! I'll see ye agin, \ 
 
 ^ Wen I git th' kinks out'er my legs,,' 
 
 I'll send ye some milk, wot's keer'fly §kimmed; 
 
 An' a case uv.last 
 
 IV. 
 
 16 
 
DO BBKKIKGr 
 
 XUently floating along, 
 ^ Ben King, 
 
 The river — your river St. Jo. 
 
 Drifting away to the same old song 
 
 Of a nature you used to know, 
 
 lycaming to find in that love, 
 Ben King, 
 
 You held for the dear old stream, 
 
 That the water, the trees and sky above 
 
 Were the soul of your grand old theme. 
 
 Quietly drifting to-night, 
 
 Ben King, 
 I dream with your soul in mine. 
 While true to the tryst, the same moonlight 
 Peeps into old havints of thine. 
 Ah! was it not here at Ox Bow, 
 
 Ben King, 
 The beauteous dream grew bright? 
 And your soul was caught in life's undertow, 
 To be borne thro' the long still night. 
 
 Slowly careqjing the dawn, 
 
 Ben King, 
 Is silv'ring the stream's broad face. 
 I awake and the dream is gone, 
 
 Ben King, 
 And things of the clay take its place. 
 But we've lived it again, you and I, 
 
 Ben King, 
 Your beautifiil dream to the sea, 
 Alone on the river St. Jo 'neath the sky. 
 Soul in soxil, Ben King, with thee. 
 
 19 
 

 Wmmmm* 
 
 les to ashes and dust to dust," 
 
 So reads the law of old 
 That for ages has stood thro' the mold and must 
 
 As time gathers more souls to the fold. 
 Now one is quickened, then stilled in his turn 
 
 For the while, leaving nothing but pain; 
 Tho' loved ones will suffer, comes peace when we learn 
 
 That the rose may be colored againi 
 
 As the sunshine from God brings life to the rose, 
 
 So life blooms for the time. 
 Grand in its beautifial, flov/'ring repose, 
 
 Sweet in its fragrance and color sublime, 
 'Till the Autumn of love withers the heart 
 
 And lays low the fall bloom to the rain, 
 Tho' drooping and bleeding, from all rent apart. 
 
 Still the rose may be colored again. 
 
 20 
 
TheOldHousfe^ 
 Up the Creek 
 
 /^/m jist settin' here'n dreamin 
 In the shadder uv th' mill, 
 ^.■^ An' in fancy comes the seemin'- 
 xl^lrii^^. 'At et's strange 'at all's so still. 
 Don't hear no buzz saw singin', 
 
 Ner the histin' chain's click, click, 
 En' my mem'ry's kinder clingin' 
 
 'Round the ole house up th' crick. 
 
 %:: W. 
 
 V , Agin I'm ploddin' thew th' com 
 
 Thet' s growed ' bout hip high, ^ ,.,3?^' J ' 
 My heart seems heavy en' furlom, f 
 
 En' I'd kinder like to cry. 
 I've jist went thew th' melon patch ^V,. 
 
 Past the ole hay-rick, *^''* ' 
 
 iCrossed the foot-log 'n raised th* latch, 
 |[(H'(.. C)n/|th' ole house up th' crick. 
 
 [IT. 
 
 Agin I'm fussin' 'ith Pap's tools 
 0t^ At's hangin' on th' v^all, 
 A measurin' 'ith his two-foot rule 
 
 An' a jabbin' 'ith a awl. 
 Thair's th' draw-knife wot Pop used fur years. 
 
 Er my mem'ry's played a trick. 
 Fur makin' splits ter bottom cheers 
 . ■■. . Et th' ole house up th' crick. 
 
 
 23 
 
Nen I'm lookin' out th' winder 
 
 Et th' ole mulberry tree 
 Jist this side o' th' timber 
 ~>\ Whair Pap swarmed a batch o' bees. 
 "^So menny times I kaint jist 'member,^ ^'. <-'•'''•" 
 £^ ' ." See'd th! groun' dead ripe 'n- thick 
 -^^.-;;With all the fruits, uy ole September , , 
 '^^^ ' ^Et th' ole "house up th' crick. " 
 
 M^Y'Nen I'm standin' by th' sorgum mill 
 
 Ji'|:'.V-, . Jist on th' Uttle raise 
 i|i;y .Behind th' house 'n nigh th' hill 
 ■' *'/'•/: '.'Whair we sledded winter daya» 
 
 '•'if'^\\%^k 
 
 I see tb' glist'nih' uv the pans 
 
 'At biled th' 'lasses quick, • . . . ..i,( 
 
 Scrubbed clean ez pins by mother's hands .. 
 
 Et th' ole house up th' crick. 
 
 ../t»v '/v^J '^"* 
 
 N'en it seems to me 'at winter 'is come, 
 
 Th' ground's snowed ov*r white. 
 En' all th' birds an' things are dumb, 
 
 Flow'rs all gone out'r sight. 
 Butcherin' time's 'round agin* 
 
 We're makm' driver sticks. 
 Fur soon the killin'S goin' ter begin 
 
 Et th' ole house up th' crick. 
 
 84 
 
' look et thet patch o' ground, 
 
 At's walled 'round 'ith stone, 
 I know a orchard's th' place fur mounds 
 
 Over everlastin' homes. 
 En' w'en life's light's a fiickerin^, 
 
 Nigh burnt ez th' candle wick, 
 I'll sleep whair the birds is twit'rin 
 
 'Round th' ole house up th' crick 
 
 25 
 
Ifn Venus' Steps 
 
 T^ Satiated, tired, alone to-night, 
 
 ^ '^ In retrospection, reviewing the world, 
 
 I pierce thro' the darkness back to the light 
 ■^j . Of a happiness now deep in nnisery hurled. 
 I see the years spent, 
 All in selfishness lent 
 To youth seeking pleasure, imbridled, unreined, 
 \ Leap to the fire 
 
 Of passion's desire, 
 To gather them all, alas, but in vain. 
 
 Hark! thro' the dark comes the same old song. 
 From the throne where the Goddess of light 
 Deludes with false pleasure the maddened throng '- 
 She soon will condemn to the night} 
 
 So darkened and dreary, 
 
 The souls grown weary. 
 Vainly groping to clutch the iast ray,. 
 
 Purposely severed, 0'?/^"'^ TTliffll 
 
 Gone and forever ;///\ /\^ r'pr^ 
 Leaving no warmth of tlie dead yesterday 
 
 
 26 
 

 Here, in the darkness, we weep and weep, 
 And cancel dur debt to pleasure, with pain, 
 While youth growing feeble is trying to creep 
 Thro' the darkness back to the light again. 
 
 Here oncoming age 
 
 Sums up the last page, 
 And, finding the total, notes down nothing new. 
 
 But why this complaining. 
 
 All youth disdaining? 
 Ye have known all the happiness given to few. 
 
 Dry is the fovintain; have done with the past. 
 Somewhere in the woodland the stream of life 
 Is finding the way, and will lead us at last 
 Safe thro' the darkness of loves' mad rife. 
 
 No longer the yearning, 
 
 Firm in the learning. 
 How shallow, how heartless the Goddess' way ! 
 
 Vows lightly spoken. 
 
 Promises broken. 
 With silent heart breaking the debt must we pay.\ 
 
 27 
 
^,:0^^^'^^^^$^>^'^^ 
 
 01M,WteiiHiK| 
 
 Y' all heah dat flap, suh? 
 
 Way up dar. 
 Dat's ole raid, white 'n bluey 
 Tek off yo' hat, suh, 
 
 Say a pra'r 
 Fur de folks wot fit 'n bied fur you- 
 Fit 'n bled fur y' all 'n me; 
 Died to set de black folks free. 
 
 Drap on yo' knee, suh ; 
 
 Bow yo' haid 
 Beneaf dem stripes 'n stahs; 
 Sen' up yo' plea, suh. 
 
 Fur de daid 
 Wot fit 'n died in all her wahs- 
 Fit to set de kintry free; 
 Bled an' died fur y' all 'n me. 
 
 Let yo' po' tears, suh, 
 
 Drap laik rain. 
 Dau-'s nuffin else y' all kin do 
 Fur all de years, suh, 
 ■ ^^<^ ■ An' de pain 
 
 cos' dat flag to sheltah you. 
 
 '^ 
 
 >■ ■\\\ — ■ — & -'-- 
 
 vi»>i|'j Pray fum yo' heart 'n not yo moui; 
 
 Gord bress de Norf. Gord bress de Souf. 
 
 |j] 
 
 s'lVi 
 
 E?; 
 
 ii 
 
 l^'i 
 
 28 
 

A skunk haint sich a norfiil bad feller, 
 •An' no more desarves th' name 
 ■''An some folks I know what's got streaks o' 
 ^Runnin' down thair backs jist th' same. 
 
 Now, a skunk haint a goin' ter do yew no harm,' »'v^' 
 ' Less'n yew go ter pesterin' him. 
 "^y'd 'vise in thet case is, ginn him th* farm. 
 An' ef you're nigh th* hole, crawl in. 
 
 ,'I know fur a fee' thet skunks ez abused. 
 
 An' air packin' a heap o' blame 
 
 'Kase chickens air missed from coops, thair ekcused! 
 ^Now I claim thet's a dum shame. 
 
 Fur I argy'fy this, an' I reckon it goes 
 
 With enny detective wot's fair : 
 
 Ef you'se blind ez a bat yer dum fool nose 
 
 Ort'er tell ye 'f skunks hed been thair. 
 
 'Kase a skvink'sgot th' name o' bein a skunk 
 
 Haint no reason 'at he's got th' game, 
 
 An' menny's th' time I've sot 'round an* thunk, - -« 
 
 Arter all, v^ot's in a name? 
 
 Ev'ry thin's hyar they say fw some good, 
 
 l3vt I'm dumed ef et don't make me smile • - . 
 
 To see a skuAk make a bee-line to th' wood 
 
 W'en he smells a ortep'^mo-'bile. - -, " 
 
 =«^ 
 
 .'^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 4 
 
 n 
 
 '^ 
 
 31 
 
Mu00n(^^uams 
 
 ^Queen of Queens, darker than night f 
 E'en a shadow in the bright sunshine, 
 Scorning, disdaining, commanding the light 
 To wane, grow dusk to thy beauty sublime. 
 Ruling, reigning with, frivolous will. 
 Thy kingdom of subjects, willing slaves ! 
 Insatiate, sighing for more to kilt 
 Thy smile the mandate that builds up graves. 
 
 Quewi of Queens ! by fete decreed 
 To lessen, to quicken the heart of man, 
 Halting, hurling? in frenzied speed 
 On to nfeet death, in thy smile so bland. 
 Hoping, trembling before thy throne, 
 Daring the judgment thou art sure to mete, 
 Silently dying, without a moan, 
 Giving to others room at thy feet 
 
 Queen of, Queens ! reign o'er all Queens, 
 Of beauty dark and of beauty fair, 
 While drunken legions dream drunk dreams, 
 A conquering Prince' sinimpets blare. 
 Thy throne encircled in love's power, 
 The Prince of charm draws close the ring. 
 And angels whisper, bless the hour, 
 The Queen.of Queens bows to her King: 
 
 82 
 
Why will fate beam smiles on one. 
 
 To another deal but pain; 
 And when this v/eary life is done, 
 
 WiU love live on the same? 
 Which misery is all thine to own, 
 
 What answers that deep sigh ? 
 Breathes it, loved am I and loved alone, 
 
 Or does it moan good-by? 
 
 ^ife'SjJoker 
 
 Little Cupid, life's joker. 
 
 Declined to play poker. 
 And pouted a wish for his hat and darts. 
 
 He smiled interested 
 
 When a fair one suggested 
 A hand at the innocent game of hearts. 
 
 33 
 
Yew Dimmykrats hez got the swings 
 ' • ^).-*N yer trjdn' to hold us down, 
 „. 'N makes us dance while yew'un's sing 
 *N run the hul dumed town[ ""^ 
 This skule house buildin's jist a game 
 
 Ez I kin see clean thew, 
 'Kase the ole un's log, 62 a mighty lame 
 Excuse to come Irom ye\y. ,.. ,,i.. 
 ••• • .uvU«"' 
 
 Ther's a nigger in th' wood pile, 
 
 'Bout this noo brick skule 1 ' " 
 Wot we want's lamin; dum th' style; 
 
 Thet's lamed be enny fool, 
 Th' ole log skule wuz good 'nuff 
 
 Fer yer daddy's 'n yew 'n me, 
 'N I'm one trustee yew kaint bluff 
 
 Ter b'lievin' haw ez gee. 
 
 
 'Sides, twicrtwo's four' et enny time, 
 
 Mamin', noon er night. 
 Yew don't hev ter be all rigged up fine 
 
 Ter spell com an' 'taters right, 
 Like thet young minx fotched hyar from town, 
 
 All primpted 'n scented sweet — 
 Tew dum fine-haireS fer tew set down 
 -, ^ \ 'Thout dustin' off the seat 
 
 34 
 
imn'-^fest mi^^ wgjMid, '' • 
 
 Grad-gi-ated 'uth high degree, 
 A trjnn' tew Isuti my Sue 'en Thad 
 
 Tei- spell 'taters 'ith a P. 
 "No doubleyew hez th' French alphabet," 
 
 Them's jist th' words she said, 
 N my boy Thad's a worrin' yit, 
 
 Ter git et thew his head. 
 
 Fer me, Tm gittin sick 'n tirec 
 
 A listin' tew sich talk. 
 Wot comes from people thet ez hired,^ 
 
 'N don't know cheese from chalk. 
 "Y th' hul blamed class nigh hed a spell 
 
 From thet last sloile hnarm's naggin' 
 'Thout a doubleyew how in— Well, 
 . . How kin th' kids spell wagin? 
 
 35 
 
>=Cn" f At Barney's. f/?^'^^ 
 
 :^ J^ J/ Where the soul bubbled forth its richest weaiai, pf^j'f^' 
 -^ At Barney's. 
 
 Where the Doctor embraced the Lawyer-man, 
 Where the artist, the scribe and artisan 
 Threw off the cloth of trade or clan. 
 At Barney' §. 
 
 Comes to me now a time gone by. 
 
 At Barney's, --j=si 
 
 'iW^cn one of a gladsome throng was I, "' 
 '^- At Barney's, 
 
 Rev'ling again in Bohemia fair. 
 Greeting each friend in his favorite chair. 
 Mingling again with the good souls there. 
 
37 
 
Jist try to make out yer orful glad-^ 
 
 Don't keen 
 Love's akind'er canipShtin fit, 
 An' poutin' wunt he'p th' thing a bit; 
 'Sides ye kaint wear socks 'till arter they're krtit 
 So don't keen 
 
"ri^^'fi^'X^. "'■'f^-'x : •J?*?:V'^ii;'<',i';i:..--i.', 
 
 i^t*' 
 
 Ef folks pass ye by 
 
 "Uthout a word, 
 Don't keer. 
 
 Don't set down 'n the road 'n cry- 
 Don 't keer. 
 
 Noises ez made afore they're heard, 
 
 An' milk is cream afore it's ciord; 
 
 Yer heart kin be gold ef yer coat is slurred 
 So don't keer. 
 
 Ef all things haint right 
 In this short life. 
 Don't keer. 
 Jist work thew th' day an' rest et night- 
 Don 't keer. 
 Fusses ez quarrels afore they're strife, 
 An' steel is a blade afore it's a knife, 
 So whistle a tvine ef ye kaint play a fife. 
 
 An' don't keer. ...,. ;^S%^ -ssvi^^ 
 
 
 H»/*: 
 
 39 
 
£f I wxPre 
 
 I'd hev a law agin thet knock 
 A-thumpin' doors et four o'clock, ^ 
 An' pap's a-yellin' "Feed the stock 
 
 Whoa, dum ye, whoa! 
 I'd hev' a-nuther'n, hard ez nails, 
 Agin thet job o' splittin' rails, 
 An' strippin cow's milk inter pails, 
 
 So-bossy-so! 
 
 An' w'en a ssircus 1dm ter town, 
 I'd make pap's let ther boys go down 
 To see th.' el'funts 'n clown, 
 
 An' hev some fan. 
 But I haint pres'dent, an' so 
 Afor^ the sun gits down too low. 
 Ah' pap gits hum, I'd better mow 
 
 Them weeds, by gum. 
 
 40 
 
J)c?l"viel bloAv^ed. f 
 
 Yas, suh, Majah! I'se de same coon 
 
 Y' all hawd t' tek keer o* dat muel. 
 I raik'n y' all tink I'se back mighty soonio^ 
 
 Please^ Majah, lemme set on dis stool 
 I'se tawd 'n weak 'n pow'fiil soah; 
 
 Kain hawdly walk a-tall. _^ __ 
 
 Raik'n I couldn't go ten feet moah, '^* 
 
 L>ess'n I lay rait down 'n erawL 
 
 You 'membah y' all 'low'd yo' mud wuzsTck 
 
 Y' all hawd a niggah name Dan, - 
 To doctor dat muel 'n fix 'im up quick, 
 
 Down dar en yo' bottom Ian*. 
 I know's niggah Dan uz brae ez ink, 
 
 An' he stay dat way, tell las' nait, 
 W.'en de muel turn Dan a yallarish pink 
 
 Dat fas' am a tumin' to white' 
 
 Yo' rait, Majah! Niggah Dan wuz fat; 
 
 Al-ways huntin' de shade an' cool. 
 But I'se de same niggah, 'cep'in' dat 
 
 I'se lose some flesh fru dat muel. 
 I al-ways 'sposed th' dangus end 
 
 Uv a muel wuz at hez tail. 
 'Count o' dat fool notion, y' all's got to mend 
 
 Dis niggah sick, thin an' pale. 
 
 Ye see, Mars Majah, I done fill dat hose 
 
 Wif cal'mul laik y' all sayed. 
 Sez I to de rnuel, "Down yo' thoat dis goes" 
 
 Den de muel lif ' up his haid 
 An' smiled jes laik he 'peared ter know 
 
 Dat dose gine ter hut me de wust; 
 Fur w'en I gits all ready t' blow, — ^—■ 
 
 Fo' de Lawd, de muel blowed fust'. ^ 
 
 41 
 
Out 'a goblin' uv th' food. 
 But I'm lonely, 
 Orful lonely. 
 
 -Nen et night time — i^ 
 
 I _Fur me ther' haint no rest, 
 'Kase I 'm lonely, ^^ ' " ^ 
 :, Heart's a-achin'. 
 
 "' fl^^filjfiLet.'s^ll fur th ' be st^ ^^^^^^^ 
 
 I "Sidesr^pss-she ttz-on|'>^ funnin^j j 
 ?ht;' 
 Junnin 
 _^^jr':^J_;^1affin' et~my7plight^-J^^' 
 l.L^.U>"T-r .-^^^^ gee whiskers, ~ iTF"^ 
 
 *Sidesr^ess-she ttz-oni'v : 
 ttkhhsiiJgii' t'other Aik; 
 Jist pract 'cii 1 woman's qu 
 
 y. 
 
 > 
 
 ic. 
 
 > 
 
 
 Haint I lonely 
 
 I'm thet lonely, 
 
 Makes et a dumed sight worse, "^ 
 Stid uv workin', ■' { • . 
 
 Standin' lookin', ^*' , 
 
 Thinkin' out some purty verse;: 
 
 ^^"^mfP 
 
 42 
 
One thet's rig'nul, sweet 'n purty, 
 A dandy rsmie et'll fit to Sue, 
 Su'thin' like thet little ditty, 
 "Roses red 'n vi'luts blue." 
 Gorsh all fish hooks, 
 But I'm lonely. 
 
 I'm so lonely, 
 
 Guess I'd better migrate 
 
 From th' longin'. 
 
 An' th' hurtin'. 
 
 Might go clean t' Calfbmy state, 
 
 'Kase I've heer'd tell at times ez fine 
 
 ^A/her' th' bal-my breezes blow. 
 
 Out ther' I need'nt keep a tryin' 
 
 Ter smile 'n laff 'n make a ^ow, 
 
 Wen I'm so cussed. 
 
 All fired lonely. 
 
 Yep! wuz lonely; 
 Think I've found th "reason; 
 Fur th achin' ' ' "^ 
 
 An' th' painin'; 
 
 Might git well afore fall season.] 
 Gee, et's set my head a reelin'; 
 
 J I Brace up, Hank, an' be a man. 
 
 r Tell Susann jist how yer feelin*, 
 ^|^-S^yap yer lunk head fur her hand, 
 
 ^^ 'nen I'll bet _ ..^^p -.• t :J^J^ 
 
 ^'You wunt be lonely. '^ •••• ' ^'" 
 
 43 
 
^st 
 
 y- 
 
 led — a mocking laugh 
 prdly snares 
 ' i That iiirk along tired virtue's path, 
 ~A If one but dares 
 To' grapple nature in the fray, 
 . And throttle passions night and day, 
 ^^-^^1^ '.Conquering tempters all the way, 
 ~~ Pinds one who cares! 
 
 Rent from the precious gem apart, 
 , ^ The burning shame 
 Installs deceit within the heart 
 
 That is to blame. 
 Lest true love found, alas, too late! 
 And Ups for which you could not wait,l 
 Tell you the sin is mxich too great, .fzr^^S 
 
 Best quench the flame. 
 
 Hold firmlj^vilist, £Uid for all time, 
 
 The jewel rare; 
 Till, searching from a distant clime. 
 
 Comes one who cares ; 
 Thus when you've found, 'tis yours to keep. 
 Into love's well with rapture leap, 
 And of the nectar both drink deep 
 
 The wine that's there. 
 
 44 
 
iC)/iatd 
 
 
 Ihatched back to life from the brink of a grave 
 \^ That reeks with a poisoned sin. 
 Unfettered, unyoked, no longer a slave, 
 
 Now my soul struggles out from within 
 The dank, dungeon walls, where vice held its own, 
 
 Imprisoned, from all set apart, 
 And flies with a message of gratitude home 
 
 To Thee, Pythias of my heart. 
 
 Then list, while 1 sing how a link in the chain 
 
 Of friendship which cifcles the world 
 In benevolence went lost souls to reclaim. 
 
 Beneath charity's banner unfurled; 
 HoW surely he proved, 'neath the tenets bright glare. 
 
 The truth of high Pythian art. 
 And pointed the way to the great Chancellor's chair, 
 
 To me, Pythias of my heart 
 
 45 
 
JVe listened tew a heap uv talk 
 
 From sharp folks in my day, 
 But list'nin's one thing 'n takin' stock 
 
 Is 'nuther, let me say! 
 Now I've heef'd tell et Shakespeare 
 
 Tuck ev'ry cake 'n bun 
 From ev'ry clime 'n hem'sphere 
 
 Sence this ole world begun. 
 All fudge! 
 
 Wall, he might be best fur high-toned folks, 
 
 'En them galoots wot's smart, 
 Wot hez t' hev dressin' on thair jokes, 
 
 'En lives on tea 'n tarts. 
 But I don't want no seas' nin' 
 From Poets in my meal; 
 > yist good ole-fashun'd reas'nin', 
 
 •' Wot makes my ole heart feel! 
 
 fe. ) Thet's sense. 
 
 46 
 
X'c 
 
 ^^ow thair's a feller out our way^ 
 
 Wot'.s writ the grandes' ryme; 
 ^ Ev'ry verse ez a big bokay 
 ^ Uv sweetness to my mind. 
 
 5 - He don't use highferlutin' words 
 
 Ez 'ud make ole Webster sick, 
 Enventin' names fur bees 'n birds» 
 'En a try in' ter be slick. 
 ■^ No sir-ee. 
 
 C^rr'^^ 
 
 ^l) 
 
 He sings 'bout sich things ez swimmin' 
 
 'En ole water-mellon time. 
 Taint all mush regardin' wimmin, 
 
 'Eh thet senseless kind o' ryme, • 
 Thair jist ole-fashun feelin' 
 
 Thet makes my die blood start, 
 *En I love te hev' 'em stealin' 
 
 In, an' a hidin' in my heart. 
 Thair good ! 
 
 C 
 
 ^ 
 
 Fur w'en I read his writin'Sj^^ ,,,,1, .. 
 
 'Nen set "n think awhile, "^iiLl^;'*^ 't^ 
 This cold ole world jist brightens 
 
 Inter one big sunny smile. 
 'En w'en I git my final call.vr-- 
 
 Death wunt be grim er sober, 
 Ef I kin hear th' last uv all 
 
 Thet verse on ole October^ 
 By Riley^ 
 
 :^-> ^-/^'oj 
 
 ti'hM 
 
 47 
 
S^.r4^*?^S!:^^^ -^ 
 
'arefootedJ&uth 
 
 Roll back, old memory, the days of my youth. 
 
 That rowdy-dow youth. 
 
 Full of Kris Kringle truth; 
 The days of dog fiiends and copper-toed boots. 
 The sled and the top, and the pop-gun that shoots. 
 
 Gim'me sweet 'lasses candy. 
 
 That ached an old tooth. 
 In the pie-loving days of my youth. 
 
 Le^d bag: ^gain to the old swimming hole, 
 he Twin Elm hole, 
 ^With an old fishin' pole; ' 
 
 r chase me at tag 'round the old straw rick, 
 nd lielp me find lucky stones down by the crick 
 ^fiyOv joke me again 
 
 'Bout Nettie and Ruth. 
 ^In^the barefooted days oi my youth. 
 
 51 
 
,A 
 
 r^ ^ (. --'j 
 
 n,'- • 
 
 "\ 
 
 fCome with me now to the old water-mi; 
 
 
 'l\\f The old saw-log mill, 
 [ [ 1 1 1^ / ' At tKe foot of the hill ; 
 
 Or you ride old Davy, and I'll ride Baldface, 
 .jl'i; And down to the waterin' place have a race; 
 Or rain me to sleep 
 In the hay 'neath the root 
 Inlhe hide-and-seek days of my youth. 
 
 \l\\\\iTX ^^^ ItAvc me alone, in the cemet'ry old, 
 ^ In Woodland old, , \V 
 
 With its moss-grown moi^li^, '^ 
 Where the die-away songs i * ' 
 .^ A tablet of stone and a flow'i 
 " ^^- - ■ - ^ Let me rest dose to mot 
 ~ZZiz:^^^^^-~^ _Who best loved 
 — ^:=r-^ Andiw^f»ak€3'd? 
 
°^>'"i'. ■>'v'l'/,i A\L 
 
 
'Taint like th' rollin' o' th' sea, 
 
 Ner like th' sky above; 
 Et's suthin thet no 'un but me 
 
 'Ud liken unto -love. 
 I've watched et loved 'un, an' I've seen 
 
 Thei-* haint no flower er vine 
 Thet's feithful like ole evergreen, 
 
 Jist like this love o* mina 
 
 Et's jist as green when winter's snow 
 
 Lays freezin' on th' ground 
 Ez it is amid th' summer's glow, 
 
 'Uth wild flowers bloomin' 'round 
 'Uthout perfmne er color sheen, 
 
 Et's faithfulness devine, 
 An' nawthin but ole evergreen 
 
 Is like this love g'^ mine. 
 
 So while some likens love to gold, 
 
 An' others holy things, 
 While some sez ther's ez on'y told 
 
 In th' flap o' angels' wings, 
 You'll know, dear loved 'un, what I mean 
 
 When life's chill winds air sigh'n, 
 A kilUn' all but evergreen. 
 
 An' this ole love o' mine. 
 
 J V5 
 
 55 
 
JimandMoL 
 
 Yep » Jim 'en Ma hez lived together 
 
 Fur nigh on'ter twenty years; 
 Hand in hand they've faced life's weather, 
 
 Stuck tighter'n glue thew smiles an' tears. 
 Jim's allers seemed so light o' heart, 
 
 Sez he packs his heart in his paw, 
 But he's nuver benn know'd from hum to start 
 
 'Ithout ginnin' a kiss to Ma. 
 Wen they uz bows in ther' younger days, 
 
 Jim's Nell tiz ez sweet an' prim, 
 En 'fore they uz mar rid Jim ter me says, ^,/, 
 
 "Si! I'm dumed ef et haint a sin, (f//^l 
 Fur et seems ter me, Nell's tew angel likej ' 
 
 'En et kinder sticks in my craw 
 Thet mebbe I kaint foller th' pike. 
 
 Hitched double along 'ith Ma." 
 
 Well, th' Meth'dis' preacher tied th' knot, 
 
 In tli^ nat^ehyrl 'n quiet way, 
 'Nen Jiih wefnt tew, farrtin' 'f. jdis'n stock, '^n f '^ t- 
 
 En yew bet'cher he's made eft pay. ^'''i-^i^S 
 T'want long tell they moved from th' little shack 
 
 Tew th* big house yew jlst.sajy; grfe^ 
 Jim don't shet th' gate 'ithout hc^tefln' b'^SlT"- 
 
 .. .OTh ti^neheybe^hum^* Mf ^.■.. ^ . ■ .J"^- 
 
 56 
 
Yep! Jim's did splendid, en's still doin' well; 
 
 Haint old be enny means, ''^ 
 
 But th' fust five years uz hard fur Nell 
 
 Ye see, they's marrid in tho-' 'teens. < 
 Wile Nell laffed en joked, her face uz sad, ^ ^ 
 
 En some reckoned ther uz a f!aw, 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
 Kase no childun hed come en et did seem bao^ 
 
 Fur Jim ter keep callin' Nell Ma. 
 
 Jim called Nell Ma et th' ole church door, 
 
 'Uth a twinkle in his eye^ — -*' 
 
 Wen Nell seemed 'shamed, Jim laffed^ll-th' more; 
 
 Nen nudged me on th' sly. 
 Mother Drake sayed he'd orter be hided 
 
 Fur sich slingin' uv his jaw. 
 But Jim did'nt keer 'f on a rail he uz rided, 
 
 Nell uz his wife, en* he'd call her Ma. 
 
 So Jim kep' on a hevin' his fun. 
 
 En' a playin' jokes on Nell, 
 En' winter nights w'en the chores uz done 
 
 He'd set be th' fire a spell. 
 Wile NelU«d-set smilin' en* knittift' away,' 
 
 Jinnt figgered on ; ellin' his straw,::;^ ^ 
 Nuver a 
 
 Fui 
 
 57 
 
Tuza Cris'mus night, 'bout haf pas' eight 
 
 I mZ jist a gittin' in bed, 
 Wen I heer'd some 'un yellin' my name et th' 
 
 *Pon my soul, I thot some 'un uz dead, 
 I opened th* door, en' ther' be th' fence 
 
 Wuz Jim nigh ter breakin' th' law, 
 •Th' way he uz yellin' I've nuver heer'd sence 
 
 Oh ! Si, git th' Doctor fur Ma. ji 
 
 Well, my ole 'ooman, a-hearin' th' tow, 
 
 Sez Si, fetch th' Doctor ther' quick ! Ij 
 En' ^e'd cut cross lots en* git ther' someho 
 
 Fur she's champeen et 'tendin' th' sick. 
 Well, me 'n th' Doctor rid up tew th' door, 
 
 En' over th' wind wot blowed raw. 
 We heer'd Jim a moanin' 'n psicin' th' ^ 
 
 A takin' on orful for Ma. 
 
 Wen th* Doc. forbid Jim in th' room, J^ 
 
 Ther' uz music in th' air, 
 Jim jist tuck on like a crazy loon, ^ 
 
 En' swore en' yanked his haii 
 But Doc. shet th' door 'n ssyed he uz a fool,- 
 
 But et daylight, 'lowed Jim ter kiss Ma, 
 Doc. on'y sayed " It's more'n th' rule " 
 
61 
 
^^=^' 
 
 
 62 
 
Actor wife and actor man, 
 
 Acted o'er the one-night road; 
 Acted from Billings to Olean; 
 
 Acted where the water tanks fiov. 
 Acted in rink and Op'ry hall ; 
 
 Acted in stable and shed ills' 
 
 Actress said, can't see this at all, "^^ ||;| 
 
 Acting wise, she to^road^^y fied 
 
 Acted he drunkard day and night; 
 
 [ Aited drug fiend he as well; 
 Acted with all a maniac's might; 
 
 j |Acted he in a prison cell: 
 Acied the climax over sad ; 
 
 i Acting on the prompter's call; 
 Acting Judge thundered "Very bad 
 Actor man. Sixty days; that's afl." 
 
 63 
 
.^^ 
 
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 »^<>«,— iOec 1985 
 
 K<)>.—D^<: 1985