Up and down old Brandywine, In the days ‘at’s past and gone– With a dad-burn hook-and line And a saplin’ pole–swawn! I’ve had more fun, to the square Inch, than ever ANYwhere! Heaven to come can’t discount MINE Up and down old Brandywine! Hain’t no sense in WISHIN’–yit Wisht to goodness I COULD jes “Gee” […]

Old wortermelon time is a-comin’ round again, And they ain’t no man a-livin’ any tickleder’n me, Fer the way I hanker after wortermelons is a sin– Which is the why and wharefore, as you can plainly see. Oh! it’s in the sandy soil wortermelons does the best, And it’s thare they’ll lay and waller in […]

I come upon it suddenly, alone– A little pathway winding in the weeds That fringe the roadside; and with dreams my own, I wander as it leads. Full wistfully along the slender way, Through summer tan of freckled shade and shine, I take the path that leads me as it may– Its every choice is […]

They ain’t no style about ’em, And they’re sorto’ pale and faded, Yit the doorway here, without ’em, Would be lonesomer, and shaded With a good ‘eal blacker shadder Than the morning-glories makes, And the sunshine would look sadder Fer their good old-fashion’ sakes, I like ’em ’cause they kindo’– Sorto’ MAKE a feller like […]

“‘S cur’ous-like,” said the tree-toad, “I’ve twittered fer rain all day; And I got up soon, And hollered tel noon– But the sun, hit blazed away, Tell I jest clumb down in a crawfish-hole, Weary at hart, and sick at soul! “Dozed away fer an hour, And I tackled the thing agin: And I sung, […]

O queenly month of indolent repose! I drink thy breath in sips of rare perfume, As in thy downy lap of clover-bloom I nestle like a drowsy child and doze The lazy hours away. The zephyr throws The shifting shuttle of the Summer’s loom And weaves a damask-work of gleam and gloom Before thy listless […]

I In the jolly winters Of the long-ago, It was not so cold as now– O! No! No! Then, as I remember, Snowballs to eat Were as good as apples now. And every bit as sweet! II In the jolly winters Of the dead-and-gone, Bub was warm as summer, With his red mitts on,– Just […]

O The Raggedy Man! He works fer Pa; An’ he’s the goodest man ever you saw! He comes to our house every day, An’ waters the horses, an’ feeds ’em hay; An’ he opens the shed–an’ we all ist laugh When he drives out our little old wobble-ly calf; An’ nen–ef our hired girl says […]

I have jest about decided It ‘ud keep a town-boy hoppin’ Fer to work all winter, choppin’ Fer a’ old fireplace, like I did! Lawz! them old times wuz contrairy!– Blame’ backbone o’ winter, ‘peared-like WOULDN’T break!–and I wuz skeered-like Clean on into FEB’UARY! Nothin’ ever made me madder Than fer Pap to stomp in, […]

I’ b’en a-kindo’ “musin’,” as the feller says, and I’m About o’ the conclusion that they hain’t no better time, When you come to cipher on it, than the times we ust to know When we swore our first “dog-gone-it” sorto’ solum-like and low! You git my idy, do you?–LITTLE tads, you understand– Jest a-wishin’ […]

Curly Locks! Curly Locks! wilt thou be mine? Thou shalt not wash the dishes, nor yet feed the swine,– But sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam, And feast upon strawberries, sugar and cream. Curly Locks! Curly Locks! wilt thou be mine? The throb of my heart is in every line, And the […]

Knightly Rider of the Knee Of Proud-prancing Unclery! Gaily mount, and wave the sign Of that mastery of thine. Pat thy steed and turn him free, Knightly Rider of the Knee! Sit thy charger as a throne– Lash him with thy laugh alone: Sting him only with the spur Of such wit as may occur, […]

Noon-time an’ June-time, down around the river! Have to furse with ‘Lizey Ann–but lawzy! I fergive her! Drives me off the place, an’ says ‘at all ‘at she’s a-wishin’, Land o’ gracious! time’ll come I’ll git enough o’ fishin’! Little Dave, a-choppin’ wood, never ‘pears to notice; Don’t know where she’s hid his hat, er […]

One time, when we’z at Aunty’s house– ‘Way in the country!–where They’s ist but woods–an’ pigs, an’ cows– An’ all’s out-doors an’ air!– An’ orchurd-swing; an’ churry-trees– An’ churries in ’em!–Yes, an’ these– Here red-head birds steals all they please, An’ tetch ’em ef you dare!– W’y, wunst, one time, when we wuz there, We […]

O the days gone by! O the days gone by! The apples in the orchard, and the pathway through the rye; The chirrup of the robin, and the whistle of the quail As he piped across the meadows sweet as any nightingale; When the bloom was on the clover, and the blue was in the […]

You better not fool with a Bumblebee!– Ef you don’t think they can sting–you’ll see! They’re lazy to look at, an’ kindo’ go Buzzin’ an’ bummin’ aroun’ so slow, An’ ac’ so slouchy an’ all fagged out, Danglin’ their legs as they drone about The hollyhawks ‘at they can’t climb in ‘Ithout ist a-tumble-un out […]

The bookman he’s a humming-bird– His feasts are honey-fine,– (With hi! hilloo! And clover-dew And roses lush and rare!) His roses are the phrase and word Of olden tomes divine; (With hi! and ho! And pinks ablow And posies everywhere!) The Bookman he’s a humming-bird,– He steals from song to song– He scents the ripest-blooming […]

Old friends allus is the best, Halest-like and heartiest: Knowed us first, and don’t allow We’re so blame much better now! They was standin’ at the bars When we grabbed “the kivvered kyars” And lit out fer town, to make Money–and that old mistake! We thought then the world we went Into beat “The Settlement,” […]

Oh, the hobo’s life is a roving life; It robs pretty maids of their heart’s delight– It causes them to weep and it causes them to mourn For the life of a hobo, never to return. The hobo’s heart it is light and free, Though it’s Sweethearts all, farewell, to thee!– Farewell to thee, for […]

I can’t extend to every friend In need a helping hand– No matter though I wish it so, ‘Tis not as Fortune planned; But haply may I fancy they Are men of different stripe Than others think who hint and wink,– And so–I smoke my pipe! A golden coal to crown the bowl– My pipe […]