Josephus Bull Squeedunk

Josephus Bull Squeedunk wus all

     The boy play mate I had,

An’ he wus full from head tew foot

     Uv goodish ways an’ bad.

We drawed aroun’ the same ol’ cart,

     An’ wore each other’s clothes;

An’ w’en it come to getting’ tanned,

     We shared each other’s woes.

An’ night to night when bed time came

     For us two precious skunks,

He either shared my attic roost,

     Or I Joe Bull Squeedunk’s.

We growed, an’ never dreampt that by

     An’ by we’d hev to part;

Reckoned we’d allus stay to hum

     An’ drag the same ol’ cart.

But no sir-ee, we didn’t tho,

     Josephus he left hum,

An’ I, I kiner felt es ‘o’

     My leavin’ time hed come.

I wrung his han’, looked ‘tother way,

     An’ he, he kiner sighed,

‘En bolted down th’ gang plank’n I,

     I skulked back hum an’ cried.

But sakes erlive! that’s nuthin’ now,

     A score uv years hev sped;

We pass each other on the street

     An’ neither nods his head.

I’m runnin’ store, an’ uster do

     A rushin’ business-junk;

But crost the street’s another sign:

     “Josephus B. Squeedunk”.

Feb. 9, ‘93

Pub. in

Boston Courier,

June 18, ‘93