Nothin’ Tur Do

I wisht they warn’t no work tur do,

     Ner any schoolin’ days;

I wisht they warn’t no water, too,

     Tur wash a feller’s face.

I wisht they warn’t no thunder noise,

     No louder’n little guns;

I wisht they warn’t no bigger boys,

     Tur chase us littler ones.

I wisht they warn’t no girls eroun’,

     Tur laff an’ giggle so;

I wisht they warn’t no good ‘nough groun’

     Fur lickin’ sticks tur grow,

An’ ef they warn’t no things like these,

     What fun ‘twould be tur be,

Jest rollin’ in a life uv ease,

     A little boy like me.

Dec. 22, 1894

Pub. in

Boston Courier,

   Mar. 8, ‘96