 | A Dream |  |
143
THE FATE OF BRINDLE.
Broiling was the sun that day;
Alligators slept and hissed,
As old Toby drove his load
Through the wood with curve and twist.
Alligators slept and hissed,
As old Toby drove his load
Through the wood with curve and twist.
“G' dar,” said he, now and then,
As the oxen drew their load
Down toward the steamboat's wharf,
Where his master smoked and strode.
As the oxen drew their load
Down toward the steamboat's wharf,
Where his master smoked and strode.
“Well, you've come, I see, old Tobe,
But you watch that brindle ox,”
Said the master to the slave,
“He's as cunning as a fox.”
But you watch that brindle ox,”
Said the master to the slave,
“He's as cunning as a fox.”
“Shaw, now, Massy, don't yo' say
Dat dis chick am young wid sich.
I'ze drove oxen years ago,
Ober ribber, road, and ditch.
Dat dis chick am young wid sich.
I'ze drove oxen years ago,
Ober ribber, road, and ditch.
“An', yo' bet, dat brinnel ox
Will not git ole Toby down,
Kase he knows jest how toe do
Wid sich mud, sich dingy brown.
Will not git ole Toby down,
Kase he knows jest how toe do
Wid sich mud, sich dingy brown.
144
“I'ze his equals, mo', yo' bet,
An' ol' Brinnel's not de stuff
Dat can run all t'ings his way,
Kase I takes no pesky bluff.
An' ol' Brinnel's not de stuff
Dat can run all t'ings his way,
Kase I takes no pesky bluff.
“Dar's de steamboat for dis wood,
See! she's cummin' roun' de bend,
Soon she'll whistle long and shrill,
I'll de duce to Brinnel send.
See! she's cummin' roun' de bend,
Soon she'll whistle long and shrill,
I'll de duce to Brinnel send.
“Yes, de duce I'll gib him, quick,
Ef he eben crooks his tail,
Watch me lacerate his back
Wid dis bran' new hick'ry flail.
Ef he eben crooks his tail,
Watch me lacerate his back
Wid dis bran' new hick'ry flail.
“Who-o, now, Brinnel, don't yo' move.
Stiddy, watch yo' little q's,
Soon she'll whistle, an' yo' min'
Dat yo' kan't ole Toby lose.”
Stiddy, watch yo' little q's,
Soon she'll whistle, an' yo' min'
Dat yo' kan't ole Toby lose.”
“To-o-o, to-o-o, to-o, to-o-o!”
Blew the packet's whistle long;
Brindle raised his tail and ears,
Then he bellowed loud and strong.
Blew the packet's whistle long;
Brindle raised his tail and ears,
Then he bellowed loud and strong.
145
“To-o, to-o-o, to-o, to-o-o!”
Crash they went, load, Tobe, and all,
With old Brindle's head in air,
Onward, to his mighty fall.
Crash they went, load, Tobe, and all,
With old Brindle's head in air,
Onward, to his mighty fall.
“Wh-o-o, yo' pesky villain ox,
Has yo' lost yo' senses, fool?
Stiddy, stiddy, Brinnel, now,
Won't yo' stop? Oh! please get cool!”
Has yo' lost yo' senses, fool?
Stiddy, stiddy, Brinnel, now,
Won't yo' stop? Oh! please get cool!”
On they dashed, on down the road,
Through the trees at desperate gate;
Toby's flail fell off behind,
As they ran at pell mell rate.
Through the trees at desperate gate;
Toby's flail fell off behind,
As they ran at pell mell rate.
“Oh!” groaned Tobe, when just ahead
Was a tree right in their way,
So he could not turn them out,
With the team it was all day.
Was a tree right in their way,
So he could not turn them out,
With the team it was all day.
“Bang!” they went, and Brindle struck
What made him a hopeless wreck,
Never more to run away,
For the tree had broke his neck.
What made him a hopeless wreck,
Never more to run away,
For the tree had broke his neck.
146
“Look, ole Brinnel, can't you rise?”
Said old Toby at his head,
“I'll forgive yo' ef yo' will.”
But old Brindle was stone dead.
Said old Toby at his head,
“I'll forgive yo' ef yo' will.”
But old Brindle was stone dead.
“Now you've done it,” said a voice,
“And I'm going to “cat” your back,
You have killed that brindle ox
On account of foolish slack.”
“And I'm going to “cat” your back,
You have killed that brindle ox
On account of foolish slack.”
“Please, good Massy, don't hit me,”
Sobbed old Toby as he spoke,
“Dat ole Brinnel was no good,
His neck was cracked befo' it broke.”
Sobbed old Toby as he spoke,
“Dat ole Brinnel was no good,
His neck was cracked befo' it broke.”
| A Dream | |