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, “Good mornin’, Jon’;”

Jonas he would merely groan.

“Good enough,” he’d mumble, low,

“Fur all them who’s hed a show,

But fur fellers sech ez me

Days are all alike,” says he.

“What you lack is push,” says Stokes;

“Look at all our Gungy folks

Who’ve gone out an’ won renown

While you’ve be’n 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.

“Jon’,” says he, “I’d like to know

What you’d done’f you’d hed a show?”

“What would I a-done?” says he,

“I’d a-run a bizniz, see?

I’d a-be’n a man at law,

Mebbie next, a Governor.

I’ a-owned this town complete,

An’ a ha’f the county seat.

That’s what I’d a-done,” says he,

‘Ef I’d hed a show, that’s me!”

“Lucky for the other folks

Thet you had no show,” says Stokes.

                     Joe Cone

c. Dec. 6-8, 1912