Ah, but you were loving--sweet, On your little toddling feet, Liza May, Liza May. But through all the coming years, Must a mother breathe with tears, Liza May. THE MASTERS Oh, who is the Lord of the land of life, When hotly goes the fray? When, fierce we smile in the midst of strife Then whom shall we obey? Oh, Love is the Lord of the land of life Who holds a monarch's sway; He wends with wish of maid and wife, And him you must obey. Then who is the Lord of the land of life, At setting of the sun? Whose word shall sway when Peace is rife And all the fray is done? Then Death is the Lord of the land of life, When your hot race is run. Meet then his scythe and, pruning-knife When the fray is lost or won. TROUBLE IN DE KITCHEN Dey was oncet a awful quoil 'twixt de skillet an' de pot; De pot was des a-bilin' an' de skillet sho' was hot. Dey slurred each othah's colah an' dey called each othah names, Wile de coal-oil can des gu-gled, po'in oil erpon de flames. De pot, hit called de skillet des a flat, disfiggered t'ing, An' de skillet 'plied dat all de pot could do was set an' sing, An' he 'lowed dat dey was 'lusions dat he wouldn't stoop to mek 'Case he reckernize his juty, an' he had too much at steak. Well, at dis de pot biled ovah, case his tempah gittin' highah, An' de skillet got to sputterin', den de fat was in de fiah. Mistah flan lay daih smokin' an' a-t'inkin' to hisse'f, Wile de peppah-box us nudgin' of de gingah on de she'f. Den dey all des lef hit to 'im, 'bout de trouble an' de talk; An' howevah he decided, w'y dey bofe 'u'd walk de chalk; But de fiah uz so 'sgusted how dey quoil an' dey shout Dat he cooled 'em off, I reckon, w'en he puffed an' des went out. CHRISTMAS Step wid de banjo an' glide wid de fiddle, Dis ain' no time fu' to pottah an' piddle: Fu' Christmas is comin', it's right on de way, An' dey's houahs to dance 'fo' de break o' de day. What if de win' is taihin' an' whistlin'? Look at dat' fiah how hit's spittin' an' bristlin'! Heat in de ashes an' heat in de cindahs, Ol' mistah Fros' kin des look thoo de windahs. Heat up de toddy an' pas' de wa'm glasses, Don' stop to shivah at blowin's an' blas'es, Keep on de kittle an' keep it a-hummin', Eat all an' drink all, dey's lots o' a-comin'. Look hyeah, Maria, don't open dat oven, Want all dese people a-pushin' an' shovin'? Res' f'om de dance? Yes, you done cotch dat odah, Mammy done cotch it, an' law! hit nigh flo'd huh; 'Possum is monst'ous fu' mekin' folks fin' it! Come, draw yo' cheers up, I's sho' I do' min' it. Eat up dem critters, you men folks an' wimmens, 'Possums ain' skace w'en dey's lots o' pu'simmons. ROSES AND PEARLS