The Fool

Down berlow the ol stun wall,

     They’s er pool;

Thet is where we scarmper all.

     Arter school.

Thet is where we duck an swim,

Will an Frank an Ted an Jim,

Little Abe an Fred an Tim,

     An the “Fool”.

Who’s the “Fool”? Why, don’t yew know?

     Reubin Gunn;

An what makes us call him so?

     Cuz, he’s one.

‘Ud git him down ‘ere aller lone.                             Sit

All onstript, an overgrown,

‘N’ chase him roun an duck him skin and bone,      Chase... down,

     Jest fur fun!

Lordy! Don’t we haze him ‘o’?

     ‘N don’t he swear?                                        Makes him… ;

Call him everything, yew know,                            y’

     Cuz we dare.

But by jo! ef Reubin got

Inner fight an like ez not

Wuz gittin licked, tell yew what,                          y’

     We’d be there!

March 18, 1895

B. Courier,

Aug. 25, ‘95