It was Chrismus Eve, I mind hit… Bofe de weathah an’ de people—not… Cose you 'll t’ink dat ‘s mighty f… Fu’ a da’ky 's allus happy when de… But we wasn’t, fu’ dat mo’nin’ Ma…

Seems lak folks is mighty curus In de way dey t’inks an’ ac’s. Dey jes’ spen’s dey days a—mixin’ Up de t’ings in almanacs. Now, I min’ my nex’ do’ neighbour…

WINTAH time hit comin’ Stealin’ thoo de night; Wake up in the mo’nin’ Evah ting is white; Cabin lookin’ lonesome

Out of the sunshine and out of the… Out of the dust of the grimy stree… A song fluttered down in the form… And it bore me a message, the one… Ah, I was toiling, and oh, I was…

I’S a—gittin’ weary of de way dat… De folks dat’s got dey 'ligion in… Dey’s allus somep’n comin’ so de s… An’ hit tain’t no p’oposition fu’… Ef de sweet pertater fails us an’…

Come, drink a stirrup cup with me, Before we close our rouse. You ‘re all aglow with wine, I kn… The master of the house, Unmindful of our revelry,

This is the debt I pay Just for one riotous day, Years of regret and grief, Sorrow without relief. Pay it I will to the end —

(Lines on reading ‘Driftwood.’) Driftwood gathered here and there Along the beach of time; Now and then a chip of truth ‘Mid boards and boughs of rhyme;

GRANNY’S gone a—visitin’, Seen huh git huh shawl W’en I was a—hidin’ down Hime de gyahden wall. Seen huh put her bonnet on,

W’EN de evenin’ shadders Come a—glidin’ down, Fallin’ black an’ heavy Ovah hill an’ town, Ef you listen keerful,

W’EN de colo’ed ban’ comes ma’chi… Don’t you people stan’ daih starin… Ain’t dey playin’? Hip, hooray! Stir yo’ stumps an’ cleah de way, Fu’ de music dat dey mekin’ can’t…

In the tents of Akbar Are dole and grief to—day, For the flower of all the Indies Has gone the silent way. In the tents of Akbar

She told her beads with down—cast… Within the ancient chapel dim; And ever as her fingers slim Slipt o’er th’ insensate ivories, My rapt soul followed, spaniel—wis…

THOUGH the winds be dank, And the sky be sober, And the grieving Day In a mantle gray Hath let her waiting maiden robe h…

Oh, what shall I do? I am wholly… I am sure I ‘ll be jailed for a l… I ’ll be out of a job—it’s the thi… When I ‘m letting my duty go by w… You may judge the extent and degre…