Jonas Bean

Jonas Bean would set all day,

Also While the nights away,

Down to Stokes’s grocery store,

Plum discouraged to the core.

Stokes would say, “God mornin’, Jon,”

Jonas he would merely groan;

“Good enough,” he’d mumble, low,

“Fur all them thet’s got a show,

But fur cusses sech ez me,

Days are all alike,” sez he.

“What you lack is push,” says Stokes;

“Look at all the Gungy folks

Who’ve gone out an’ made renown

While you’ve been a-settin’ roun’.

Fame an’ fortune, plush an’ silk

Won’t back up fur you to milk!”

Amos Green who set close by

Shook his head approvin’ly.

Says he, “Jon, I’d like to know

What you’d done’f you’d hed thet show?”

“What would I a-done?” says he,

“I’d own bizniz, yes sir-ee;

I’d a-been a man at law,

Mebbe next a Governor.

I’d a-owned a haf’ or more

Uv this hull durn’d Yankee shore!

That’s what I’d a-done,” says he,

“Ef I’d hed a show, thet’s me!”

“Lucky fur the other folks –

That you never hed,” says Stokes.

April 3, 1912