My Ol’ Dad

                                                    

                           

                                 John H. Cone

There wuz a time, once, when I had

More common sense than my ol’ dad;

An’ yuster tell him what way what,

When he a little uppish got.

An’ when he tried ter kick up sin

I had hard work ter hol’ him in.

The hardes’ trials them days I had

Wuz in the management uv dad.

   

But mother warn’t so hard ter hol’;

She allus done as she wuz tol’,

An’ never thought uv sayin’ no,

When I tol’ her “do so an’ so.”

She realized jest what I wuz,

Ez wise ol’ mothers allus does,

An’ kep’ herself frum day ter day,

Accordin’ ter my better way.

But dad, he warn’t so bright ez ma,

An’ we wuz allus in a jaw;

Till one day in the onyun bed,

He disobeyed some things I said,

Which shocked my dignerty, an’ riled

My sense uv justice till I b’iled.

An’ so I says, “It’s jest erbout

Time now, we hed this biz’niz out.”

Wall, there aint very much ter tell;

‘Twas several day ‘fore I got well;

An’ ma hed tew reseat my pants

When dad hed finished off his dance.

An’ now, if I remember right,

I changed my min’ somewhat thet night;

An’s ever sence thet summer’s day

I’ve let mt daddy hev his way.

March 20, 1894

Pub. Boston Courier,

April 15, 1894.