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In pretty； prattling play；
But presently bethinks him
And hastens to me then；
For it's half…past kissing time
And time to kiss again！
JEST 'FORE CHRISTMAS
Father calls me William； sister calls me Will；
Mother calls me Willie； but the fellers call me Bill！
Mighty glad I ain't a girl … ruther be a boy；
Without them sashes； curls； an' things that's worn by Fauntleroy！
Love to chawnk green apples an' go swimmin' in the lake …
Hate to take the castor…ile they give for bellyache！
'Most all the time； the whole year round； there ain't no flies on me；
But jest 'fore Christmas I'm as good as I kin be！
Got a yeller dog named Sport； sick him on the cat；
First thing she knows she doesn't know where she is at！
Got a clipper sled； an' when us kids goes out to slide；
'Long comes the grocery cart； an' we all hook a ride！
But sometimes when the grocery man is worrited an' cross；
He reaches at us with his whip； an' larrups up his hoss；
An' then I laff an' holler； 〃Oh； ye never teched me！〃
But jest 'fore Christmas I'm as good as I kin be！
Gran'ma says she hopes that when I git to be a man；
I'll be a missionarer like her oldest brother； Dan；
As was et up by the cannibuls that lives in Ceylon's Isle；
Where every prospeck pleases； an' only man is vile！
But gran'ma she has never been to see a Wild West show；
Nor read the Life of Daniel Boone； or else I guess she'd know
That Buff'lo Bill an' cow…boys is good enough for me！
Excep' jest 'fore Christmas； when I'm good as I kin be！
And then old Sport he hangs around； so solemn…like an' still；
His eyes they seem a…sayin'： 〃What's the matter； little Bill？〃
The old cat sneaks down off her perch an' wonders what's become
Of them two enemies of hern that used to make things hum！
But I am so perlite an' 'tend so earnestly to biz；
That mother says to father： 〃How improved our Willie is！〃
But father； havin' been a boy hisself； suspicions me
When； jest 'fore Christmas； I'm as good as I kin be！
For Christmas； with its lots an' lots of candies； cakes； an' toys；
Was made； they say； for proper kids an' not for naughty boys；
So wash yer face an' bresh yer hair； an' mind yer p's and q's；
An' don't bust out yer pantaloons； and don't wear out yer shoes；
Say 〃Yessum〃 to the ladies； an' 〃Yessur〃 to the men；
An' when they's company； don't pass yer plate for pie again；
But； thinkin' of the things yer'd like to see upon that tree；
Jest 'fore Christmas be as good as yer kin be！
BEARD AND BABY
I say； as one who never feared
The wrath of a subscriber's bullet；
I pity him who has a beard
But has no little girl to pull it！
When wife and I have finished tea；
Our baby woos me with her prattle；
And； perching proudly on my knee；
She gives my petted whiskers battle。
With both her hands she tugs away；
While scolding at me kind o' spiteful；
You'll not believe me when I say
I find the torture quite delightful！
No other would presume； I ween；
To trifle with this hirsute wonder；
Else would I rise in vengeful mien
And rend his vandal frame asunder！
But when her baby fingers pull
This glossy； sleek； and silky treasure；
My cup of happiness is full …
I fairly glow with pride and pleasure！
And； sweeter still； through all the day
I seem to hear her winsome prattle …
I seem to feel her hands at play；
As though they gave me sportive battle。
Yes； heavenly music seems to steal
Where thought of her forever lingers；
And round my heart I always feel
The twining of her dimpled fingers！
THE DINKEY BIRD
In an ocean； 'way out yonder
（As all sapient people know）；
Is the land of Wonder…Wander；
Whither children love to go；
It's their playing； romping； swinging；
That give great joy to me
While the Dinkey…Bird goes singing
In the amfalula tree！
There the gum…drops grow like cherries；
And taffy's thick as peas …
Caramels you pick like berries
When； and where； and how you please；
Big red sugar…plums are clinging
To the cliffs beside that sea
Where the Dinkey…Bird is singing
In the amfalula tree。
So when children shout and scamper
And make merry all the day；
When there's naught to put a damper
To the ardor of their play；
When I hear their laughter ringing；
Then I'm sure as sure can be
That the Dinkey…Bird is singing
In the amfalula tree。
For the Dinkey…Bird's bravuras
And staccatos are so sweet …
His roulades； appoggiaturas；
And robustos so complete；
That the youth of every nation …
Be they near or far away …
Have especial delectation
In that gladsome roundelay。
Their eyes grow bright and brighter；
Their lungs begin to crow；
Their hearts get light and lighter；
And their cheeks are all aglow；
For an echo cometh bringing
The news to all and me；
That the Dinkey…Bird is singing
In the amfalula tree。
I'm sure you like to go there
To see your feathered friend …
And so many goodies grow there
You would like to comprehend！
Speed； little dreams； your winging
To that land across the sea
Where the Dinkey…Bird is singing
In the amfalula tree！
THE DRUM
I'm a beautiful red； red drum；
And I train with the soldier boys；
As up the street we come；
Wonderful is our noise！
There's Tom； and Jim； and Phil；
And Dick； and Nat； and Fred；
While Widow Cutler's Bill
And I march on ahead；
With a r…r…rat…tat…tat
And a tum…titty…um…tum…tum …
Oh； there's bushels of fun in that
For boys with a little red drum！
The Injuns came last night
While the soldiers were abed；
And they gobbled a Chinese kite
And off to the woods they fled！
The woods are the cherry…trees
Down in the orchard lot；
And the soldiers are marching to seize
The booty the Injuns got。
With tum…titty…um…tum…tum；
And r…r…rat…tat…tat；
When soldiers marching come
Injuns had better scat！
Step up there； little Fred；
And； Charley； have a mind！
Jim is as far ahead
As you two are behind！
Ready with gun and sword
Your valorous work to do …
Yonder the Injun horde
Are lying in wait for you。
And their hearts go pitapat
When they hear the soldiers come
With a r…r…rat…tat…tat
And a tum…titty…um…tum…tum！
Course it's all in play！
The skulking Injun crew
That hustled the kite away
Are little white boys； like you！
But 〃honest〃 or 〃just in fun；〃
It is all the same to me；
And； when the battle is won；
Home once again march we
With a r…r…rat…tat…tat
And tum…titty…um…tum…tum；
And there's glory enough in that
For the boys with their little red drum！
THE DEAD BABE
Last night； as my dear babe lay dead；
In agony I knelt and said：
〃0 God！ what have I done；
Or in what wise offended Thee；
That Thou should'st take away from me
My little son？
〃Upon the thousand useless lives；
Upon the guilt that vaunting thrives；
Thy wrath were better spent！
Why should'st Thou take my little s