BACK FROM TOWN

Old friends allus is the best,

Halest-like and heartiest:

Knowed us first, and do n'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,”

And the friends‘ at we'd make there

Would beat any anywhere!—

And they do — fer that's their biz:

They beat all the friends they is —

‘ Cept the raal old friends like you

‘ At staid at home, like I'd ort to!

W'y, of all the good things yit

I ai n't shet of, is to quit

Business, and git back to sheer

These old comforts waitin’ here —

These old friends; and these old hands

‘ At a feller understands;

These old winter nights, and old

Young-folks chased in out the cold!

Sing “Hard Times'll come ag'in

No More!” and neighbors all jine in!

Here's a feller come from town

Wants that-air old fiddle down

From the chimbly!— Git the floor

Cleared fer one cowtillion more!—

It's poke the kitchen fire, says he,

And shake a friendly leg with me!