 | A Dream |  |
133
RASBIN SMITH'S DIGGIN'.
Rasbin Smith had puzzled all,
For some twenty miles around,
By the way he dug a ditch
In the hardest kind of ground.
For some twenty miles around,
By the way he dug a ditch
In the hardest kind of ground.
Not a soul could see just how
Such a little man as he
Ever could do so much work—
Just as much as any three.
Such a little man as he
Ever could do so much work—
Just as much as any three.
Once, while strolling in the wood,
Came I on this well known man,
While he sat upon a stump,
Letting air his whiskers fan.
Came I on this well known man,
While he sat upon a stump,
Letting air his whiskers fan.
Sitting down upon a log,
I then asked him how it came
That he beat all other men,
Even though the work the same.
I then asked him how it came
That he beat all other men,
Even though the work the same.
“Well,” said Rasbin, turning round.
Looking me square in the eye,
Ebery man who habs success,
Habs toe study fo' he die.
Looking me square in the eye,
Ebery man who habs success,
Habs toe study fo' he die.
134
“Ditchin' am ah trade, young man,
Dat all men can nebber git;
Ah hab mastered it, ma son,
An' most proudly does ah sit.
Dat all men can nebber git;
Ah hab mastered it, ma son,
An' most proudly does ah sit.
“Like all else if yo' knows how,
Anyone can do de work;
But yo' habs toe hab de stuff
Dat will make yo' nebber shirk.
Anyone can do de work;
But yo' habs toe hab de stuff
Dat will make yo' nebber shirk.
“See yo' dat right by de log,
Tucked right down dar radder snug?
Dat's de stuff yo' habs toe hab,”
Said he, pointing to a jug.
Tucked right down dar radder snug?
Dat's de stuff yo' habs toe hab,”
Said he, pointing to a jug.
“Dat's de stuff dat makes me work;
But ah must bring brains in play,
Or 'twould be de worse fo' me;
It am brains will win de day.
But ah must bring brains in play,
Or 'twould be de worse fo' me;
It am brains will win de day.
“Now dis am de way ah does
When ah starts to go to work;
By dis system does ah go,
Den arm sure to nebber shirk.
When ah starts to go to work;
By dis system does ah go,
Den arm sure to nebber shirk.
135
“In de mornin' when ah comes,
Nebber does ah tich a drop;
But ah starts an' goes to work,
Till I'ze dry an' has toe stop.
Nebber does ah tich a drop;
But ah starts an' goes to work,
Till I'ze dry an' has toe stop.
“Den ah takes ma much earned drink,
Den right down de way ah dig,
Does ah fro de jug away,
Den ah works fo' one mo' swig.
Den right down de way ah dig,
Does ah fro de jug away,
Den ah works fo' one mo' swig.
“All day long ah fro ahead
Dat ole jug right by de log,
An' most hard ah habs toe dig,
Ef ah wants dat good ole grog.
Dat ole jug right by de log,
An' most hard ah habs toe dig,
Ef ah wants dat good ole grog.
“Now yo' understan', ma boy,
Dat's de secret an' de truf;
It am brains as well as strength,
An' ma diggin' am de proof.”
Dat's de secret an' de truf;
It am brains as well as strength,
An' ma diggin' am de proof.”
“Well, good day,” I said to him,
As I started on my way,
Knowing that I had found out
How he worked from day to day.
As I started on my way,
Knowing that I had found out
How he worked from day to day.
136
And while on my way back home,
After hunting all that day,
Did I come again on him,
Working like a horse away.
After hunting all that day,
Did I come again on him,
Working like a horse away.
Clouds of dust flew from the ditch,
I'd to yell to make him hear;
Then he said: “Don't bodder me,
I'm afeared ah hab some fear.
I'd to yell to make him hear;
Then he said: “Don't bodder me,
I'm afeared ah hab some fear.
“Don't stop me, ma dear young frien',
Awful hard de jug ah whirled,
An' ah wants annudder drink,
'Fo de sun sinks in de world.”
Awful hard de jug ah whirled,
An' ah wants annudder drink,
'Fo de sun sinks in de world.”
| A Dream | |