LITTLE BROWN BABY

Little brown baby wif spa'klin’ eyes,

Come to yo’ pappy an’ set on his knee.

What you been doin’, suh — makin’ san’ pies?

Look at dat bib — you's ez du'ty ez me.

Look at dat mouf — dat's merlasses, I bet;

Come hyeah, Maria, an’ wipe off his han's.

Bees gwine to ketch you an’ eat you up yit,

Bein’ so sticky an sweet — goodness lan's!

Little brown baby wif spa'klin’ eyes,

Who's pappy's darlin’ an’ who‘ s pappy's chile?

Who is it all de day nevah once tries

Fu’ to be cross, er once loses dat smile?

Whah did you git dem teef? My, you‘ s a scamp!

Whah did dat dimple come f'om in yo’ chin?

Pappy do’ know you — I b'lieves you‘ s a tramp;

Mammy, dis hyeah's some ol’ straggler got in!

Let's th'ow him outen de do’ in de san’,

We do’ want stragglers a-layin’‘ roun’ hyeah;

Let's gin him‘ way to de big buggah-man;

I know he's hidin’ erroun’ hyeah right neah.

Buggah-man, buggah-man, come in de do’,

Hyeah‘ s a bad boy you kin have fu’ to eat.

Mammy an’ pappy do’ want him no mo’,

Swaller him down f'om his haid to his feet!

Dah, now, I t'ought dat you‘ d hug me up close.

Go back, ol’ buggah, you sha'n' t have dis boy.

He ai n't no tramp, ner no straggler, of co'se;

He's pappy's pa'dner an’ play-mate an’ joy.

Come to you’ pallet now — go to yo’ res;

Wisht you could allus know ease an’ cleah skies;

Wisht you could stay jes’ a chile on my breas’ —

Little brown baby wif spa'klin’ eyes!