AT NIGHT

Whut time‘ d dat clock strike?

Nine? No — eight;

I did n't think hit was so late.

Aer chew! I must‘ a’ got a cough,

I raally b'lieve I did doze off —

Hit's mighty soothin’ to de tiah,

A-dozin’ dis way by de fiah;

Oo oom — hit feels so good to stretch

I sutny is one weary wretch!

Look hyeah, dat boy done gone to sleep!

He des ai n't wo'th his boa'd an’ keep;

I des do n't b'lieve he'd bat his eyes

If Gab'el called him fo'm de skies!

But sleepin's good dey ai n't no doubt —

Dis pipe o’ mine is done gone out.

Do n't bu'n a minute, bless my soul,

Des please to han’ me dat ah coal.

You‘ Lias git up now, my son,

Seems lak my nap is des begun;

You sutny mus’ ma'k down de day

Wen I treats comp'ny dis away!

W'y, Brother Jones, dat drowse come on,

An’ laws! I dremp dat you was gone!

You‘ Lias, whaih yo’ mannahs, suh,

To hyeah me call an’ nevah stuh!

To-morrer mo'nin’ w'en I call

Dat boy'll be sleepin’ to beat all,

Do n't mek no diffunce how I roah,

He'll des lay up an’ sno’ and sno’.

Now boy, you done hyeahed whut I said,

You bettah tek yo'se' f yo baid,

Case ef you gits me good an’ wrong

I'll mek dat sno’ a diffunt song.

Dis wood fiah is invitin’ dho’,

Hit seems to wa'm de ve'y flo’ —

An’ nuffin’ ai n't a whit ez sweet,

Ez settin’ toastin’ of yo’ feet.

Hit mek you drowsy, too, but La!

Hyeah,‘ Lias, do n't you hyeah yo’ ma?

Ef I gits sta'ted f'om dis cheah

I’ lay, you scamp, I'll mek you heah!

To-morrer mo'nin’ I kin bawl

Twell all de neighbohs hyeah me call;

An’ you'll be snoozin’ des ez deep

Ez if de day was made fu’ sleep;

Hit's funny when you got a cough

Somehow yo’ voice seems too fu’ off —

Ca n't wake dat boy fu’ all I say,

I reckon he'll sleep daih twell day!