"That Little Dog"

"That little dog 'ud scratch at that door

And go on a-whinin' two hours before

He'd ever let up! _There!_--Jane: Let him in.--

(Hah, there, you little rat!) Look at him grin!

        Come down off o' that!--

        W'y, look at him! (_Drat

You! you-rascal-you!_)--bring me that hat!

Look _out!_--He'll snap _you!_--_He_ wouldn't let

_You_ take it away from him, now you kin bet!

That little rascal's jist natchurly mean.--

I tell you, I _never_ (_Git out!! _) never seen

A _spunkier_ little rip! (_Scratch to git in_,

And _now_ yer a-scratchin' to git _out_ agin!

Jane: Let him out!) Now, watch him from here

Out through the winder!--You notice one ear

Kindo' _in_ side-_out_, like he holds it?--Well,

_He's_ got a _tick_ in it--_I_ kin tell!

        Yes, and he's cunnin'--

        Jist watch him a-runnin',

_Sidelin'_--see!--like he ain't '_plum'd true_'

And legs don't 'track' as they'd ort to do:--

Plowin' his nose through the weeds--I jing!

Ain't he jist cuter'n anything!

"W'y, that little dog's got _grown_-people's sense!--

See how he gits out under the fence?--

And watch him a-whettin' his hind-legs 'fore

His dead square run of a miled er more--

'Cause _Noey_'s a-comin', and Trip allus knows

When _Noey_'s a-comin'--and off he goes!--

Putts out to meet him and--_There they come now!_

Well-sir! it's raially singalar how

        That dog kin _tell_,--

        But he knows as well

When Noey's a-comin' home!--Reckon his _smell_

'Ud carry two miled?--You needn't to _smile_--

He runs to meet _him_, ever'-once-n-a-while,

Two miled and over--when he's slipped away

And left him at home here, as he's done to-day--

'Thout ever knowin' where Noey wuz goin'--

But that little dog allus hits the right way!

Hear him a-whinin' and scratchin' agin?--

(_Little tormentin' fice!_) Jane: Let him in.

        "--You say he ain't _there?_--

        Well now, I declare!--

Lem _me_ limp out and look! ... I wunder where--

_Heuh_, Trip!--_Heuh_, Trip!--_Heuh_, Trip!... _There_--

_There_ he is!--Little sneak!--What-a'-you-'bout?--

_There_ he is--quiled up as meek as a mouse,

His tail turnt up like a teakittle-spout,

A-sunnin' hisse'f at the side o' the house!

_Next_ time you scratch, sir, you'll haf to git in,

My fine little feller, the best way you kin!

--Noey _he_ learns him sich capers!--And they--

_Both_ of 'em's ornrier every day!--

_Both_ tantalizin' and meaner'n sin--

Allus a--(_Listen there!_)--Jane: Let him in.

"--O! yer so _innocent!_ hangin' yer head!--

(Drat ye! you'd _better_ git under the bed!)

        --Listen at that!--

        He's tackled the cat!--

Hah, there! you little rip! come out o' that!--

Git yer blame little eyes scratched out

'Fore you know what yer talkin' about!--

_Here!_ come away from there!--(Let him alone--

He'll snap _you_, I tell ye, as quick as a bone!)

_Hi_, Trip!--_Hey_, here!--What-a'-you-'bout!--

_Oo! ouch!_ 'Ll I'll be blamed!--_Blast ye!_ GIT OUT!

... O, it ain't nothin'--jist _scratched_ me, you see.--

Hadn't no idy he'd try to bite _me_!

_Plague take him!_--Bet he'll not try _that_ agin!--

Hear him yelp.--(_Pore feller!_) Jane: Let him in."