University of Virginia Library


332

Charity

Now you, John Henry, 'tain't no use
To stan' up daih an' mak no 'scuse.
You need n't tink you foolin' me,
I sutny has got eyes to see!
Oh I's yo' sistah, yes, dat's true!
But den what good 's dat gwine to do?
Dey ain't no use in tellin' lies,
You look right sheepish f'om yo' eyes!
Let's see yo' han's, uh huh, I knowed
You washed 'em, but de traces showed.
Let's see yo' mouf; his looks lak ink—
Yo' sistah cain't tell 'serves, you t'ink.
Oh my, but yo 's a naughty chile,
I has to look at you one while;
You need n't twis' in all dem curves,
To tink you'd stole yo' ma's pusserves.
Ef I tol' ma I guess you'd git
The fines' whuppin' evah yit;
But guess I'll keep it to myse'f
Erbout dat jah erpon de she'f;
Case ma's des awful w'en she stahts,
An' my, oh, how a whuppin' smahts!
So you clomb up? Oh, she'd be madder!
Say, tell me whaih you put de ladder.
[_]

L'il' Gal (1904), p. 23.