OUR TWO OPINIONS

Us two wuz boys when we fell out,—

Nigh to the age uv my youngest now;

Do n't rec'lect what't wuz about,

Some small deeff'rence, I'll allow.

Lived next neighbors twenty years,

A-hatin’ each other, me‘ nd Jim,—

He havin’ his opinyin uv me,

‘ Nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.

Grew up together‘ nd would n't speak,

Courted sisters,‘ nd marr'd‘ em, too;

Tended same meetin’ - house oncet a week,

A-hatin’ each other through‘ nd through!

But when Abe Linkern asked the West

F'r soldiers, we answered,— me‘ nd Jim,—

He havin’ his opinyin uv me,

‘ Nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.

But down in Tennessee one night

Ther’ wuz sound uv firin’ fur away,

‘ Nd the sergeant allowed ther’‘ d be a fight

With the Johnnie Rebs some time nex’ day;

‘ Nd as I wuz thinkin’ uv Lizzie‘ nd home

Jim stood afore me, long‘ nd slim,—

He havin’ his opinyin uv me,

‘ Nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.

Seemed like we knew there wuz goin’ to be

Serious trouble f'r me‘ nd him;

Us two shuck hands, did Jim‘ nd me,

But never a word from me or Jim!

He went his way‘ nd I went mine,

‘ Nd into the battle's roar went we,—

I havin’ my opinyin uv Jim,

‘ Nd he havin’ his opinyin uv me.

Jim never come back from the war again,

But I ha’ n't forgot that last, last night

When, waitin’ f'r orders, us two men

Made up‘ nd shuck hands, afore the fight.

‘ Nd, after it all, it's soothin’ to know

That here I be‘ nd yonder's Jim,—

He havin’ his opinyin uv me,

‘ Nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.