When Pa bringed me here 't 'uz night-- 'Way dark night! An' A'nty spread Me a piece--an' light the light An' say I must go to bed.-- I cry not to---but Pa said, "Be good boy now, like you telled Mommy 'at you're go' to be!" An', when he 'uz kissin' me My good night, his cheeks' all wet An' taste salty.--An' he held Wite close to me an' rocked some An' langhed-like--'til A'nty come Git me while he's rockin' yet. A'nty he'p me, 'til I be Purt'-nigh strip-pud--nen hug me In bofe arms an' lif' me 'way Up in her high bed--an' pray Wiv me,--'bout my Ma--an' Pa-- An' ole Santy Claus--an' Sleigh-- An' Reindeers an' little Drum-- Yes, an' Picture-books, "Tom Thumb," An' "Three Bears," an' ole "Fee-Faw"-- Yes, an' "Tweedle-Dee" an' "Dum," An' "White Knight" an' "Squidjicum," An' most things you ever saw!-- An' when A'nty kissed me, she 'Uz all cryin' over me! Don't want Santy Claus--ner things Any kind he ever brings!-- Don't want A'nty!--Don't want Pa!-- I ist only want my Ma! * * * * * "OLD BOB WHITE" Old Bob White's a funny bird!-- Funniest you ever heard!-- Hear him whistle,--"Old--Bob--_White_!" You can hear him, clean from where He's 'way 'crosst the wheat-field there, Whistlin' like he didn't care-- "Old-Bob-_White_!" * * * * * [Illustration: WHEN WE DROVE TO HARMONY] * * * * * Whistles alluz ist the same-- So's we won't fergit his name!-- Hear him say it?--"Old--Bob--_White_!" _There!_ he's whizzed off down the lane-- Gone back where his folks is stayin'-- Hear him?--There he goes again,-- "Old--Bob--_White_!" When boys ever tries to git Clos't to him--how quick he'll quit Whistlin' his "Old-Bob--_White_!" "_Whoo-rhoo-rhoo!_" he's up an' flew, Ist a-purt'-nigh skeerin' you Into fits!--'At's what he'll do.-- "Old-Bob--_White_!" Wunst our Hired Man an' me, When we drove to Harmony, Saw one, whistlin' "Old--Bob--_White_!" An' we drove _wite clos't_, an' I Saw him an' he didn't fly,-- Birds likes horses, an' that's why. "Old--Bob--_White_!" One time, Uncle Sidney says, Wunst he rob' a Bob White's nes' Of the eggs of "Old Bob White"; Nen he hatched 'em wiv a hen An' her little chicks, an' nen They ist all flewed off again! "Old--Bob--_White_!" * * * * * A SESSION WITH UNCLE SIDNEY [1869] I ONE OF HIS ANIMAL STORIES