[Illustration: Here in my room I'm as snugly shut] THE RUNAWAY BOY Wunst I sassed my Pa, an' he Won't stand that, an' punished me,-- Nen when he was gone that day, I slipped out an' runned away. I tooked all my copper-cents, An' clumbed over our back fence In the jimpson-weeds 'at growed Ever'where all down the road. Nen I got out there, an' nen I runned some--an' runned again When I met a man 'at led A big cow 'at shooked her head. I went down a long, long lane Where was little pigs a-play'n'; An' a grea'-big pig went "Booh!" An' jumped up, an' skeered me too. Nen I scampered past, an' they Was somebody hollered "Hey!" An' I ist looked ever'where, An' they was nobody there. I _Want_ to, but I'm 'fraid to try To go back.... An' by-an'-by Somepin' hurts my throat inside-- An' I want my Ma--an' cried. Nen a grea'-big girl come through Where's a gate, an' telled me who Am I? an' ef I tell where My home's at she'll show me there. But I couldn't ist but tell What's my _name_; an' she says well, An' she tooked me up an' says _She_ know where I live, she guess. [Illustration: An' a grea'-big pig went "Booh!"] Nen she telled me hug wite close Round her neck!--an' off she goes Skippin' up the street! An' nen Purty soon I'm home again. An' my Ma, when she kissed me, Kissed the _big girl_ too, an' _she_ Kissed me--ef I p'omise _shore_ I won't run away no more! [Illustration: Hug wite close round her neck] THE LITTLE COAT Here's his ragged "roundabout"; Turn the pockets inside out: See; his pen-knife, lost to use, Rusted shut with apple-juice; Here, with marbles, top and string, Is his deadly "devil-sling," With its rubber, limp at last As the sparrows of the past! Beeswax--buckles--leather straps-- Bullets, and a box of caps,-- Not a thing of all, I guess, But betrays some waywardness-- E'en these tickets, blue and red, For the Bible-verses said-- Such as this his mem'ry kept-- "Jesus wept." [Illustration: The Little Coat] Here's a fishing hook-and-line, Tangled up with wire and twine, And dead angle-worms, and some Slugs of lead and chewing-gum, Blent with scents that can but come From the oil of rhodium. Here--a soiled, yet dainty note, That some little sweetheart wrote, Dotting,--"Vine grows round the stump," And--"My sweetest sugar lump!" Wrapped in this--a padlock key Where he's filed a touch-hole--see! And some powder in a quill Corked up with a liver pill; And a spongy little chunk Of "punk." Here's the little coat--but O! Where is he we've censured so! Don't you hear us calling, dear? Back! come back, and never fear.-- You may wander where you will, Over orchard, field and hill; You may kill the birds, or do Anything that pleases you! Ah, this empty coat of his! Every tatter worth a kiss; Every stain as pure instead As the white stars overhead: And the pockets--homes were they Of the little hands that play Now no more--but, absent, thus Beckon us.