AN EXPLANATION

Look heah!‘ Splain to me de reason

Why you said to Squire Lee,

Der wuz twelve ole chicken thieves

In dis heah town, includin’ me.

Ef he tole you dat, my brudder,

He said sump'n dat war n't true;

W'at I said wuz dis, dat der wuz

Twelve, widout includin’ you.

Oh!...!—