* * * * * "HIK-TEE-DIK!" THE WAR-CRY OF BILLY AND BUDDY [Illustration] When two little boys--renowned but for noise-- Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!-- May hurt a whole school, and the head it employs, Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy! Such loud and hilarious pupils indeed Need learning--and yet something further they need, Though fond hearts that love them may sorrow and bleed. Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy! O the schoolmarm was cool, and in no wise a fool; Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy! And in ruling her ranks it was _her_ rule to _rule_; Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy! So when these two pupils conspired, every day, Some mad piece of mischief, with whoop and hoo-ray, That hurt yet defied her,--how happy were they!-- Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy! At the ring of the bell they 'd rush in with a yell-- Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy! And they'd bang the school-door till the plastering fell, Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy! They'd clinch as they came, and pretend not to see As they knocked her desk over--then, _My!_ and _O-me!_ How awfully sorry they'd both seem to be! Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy! [Illustration] This trick seemed so neat and so safe a conceit,-- Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!-- They played it three times--though the third they were beat; Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy! For the teacher, she righted her desk--raised the lid And folded and packed away each little kid-- Closed the incident so--yes, and locked it, she did-- Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy! [Illustration] * * * * * A CHRISTMAS MEMORY Pa he bringed me here to stay 'Til my Ma she's well.--An' nen He's go' hitch up, Chris'mus-day, An' come take me back again Wher' my Ma's at! Won't I be Tickled when he comes fer me! My Ma an' my A'nty they 'Uz each-uvver's sisters. Pa-- A'nty telled me, th' other day,-- He comed here an' married Ma.... A'nty said nen, "Go run play, I must work now!" ... An' I saw, When she turn' her face away, She 'uz cryin'.--An' nen I 'Tend-like I "run play"--an' cry. This-here house o' A'nty's wher' They 'uz borned--my Ma an' her!-- An' her Ma 'uz my Ma's Ma, An' her Pa 'uz my Ma's Pa-- * * * * * [Illustration: "HE'S GO' HITCH UP, CHRIS'MUS-DAY, AN' COME TAKE ME BACK AGAIN."] * * * * * Ain't that funny?--An' they're dead: An' this-here's "th' ole Homestead."-- An' my A'nty said, an' cried, It's mine, too, ef my Ma died-- Don't know what she mean--'cause my Ma she's nuvver go' to die! [Illustration] [Illustration]