rains to git 'is smile,
Brer Jack-o-lantern grins lak a wilderin' chile
Widout no secrets out or in;
An' de lighter in de head de broader 'is grin
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE FLEA

Look out for Mr. Po'-trash Flea!
Ef you let 'im come in, he'll make too free;
He'll chase yo' dog till he makes 'im pant,
An' he'll take yo' skin for a restaurant.
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

WILL O' THE WISP

Ef de Wul o' de Wust would cuss an' swear
An' take some shape, an' rip an' tear,
It wouldn't sen' col' chills down a nigger's spine
Like de changeable expression of a mystery shine.
An' it ain't by its ghostly self in dat--
No, it ain't by itself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE MOLE

De blind mole tunnels straight ahead,
An' he gits whar he gwine wid a trustful tread,
But he nuver is yit got nowhar else,
An' he'll nuver view de skies whar glory melts.
But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
But he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE RUNT

You'll sometimes trace de loudes' grunt
In de horg-lot down to de littles' runt,
Lak as ef he'd 'nounce whilst he gulps 'is swill,
"A pompious horg is as big as 'is will."
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE MONKEY

De organ plays an' Br'er Monkey struts,
An' he takes high pride in de capers he cuts,
While folks draps picayunes into 'is han'
For fallin' so short o' bein' a man.
An' he ain't by 'isself, misled like dat--
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE ARISTOCRAT

Dat three-name chicken wid de feathery legs
Wha' 'merged f'om de ten dollar settin' of eggs,
Is a lonesome bird an' I s'picion he frets
'Ca'ze he can't outgrow dem pantalettes.
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE CRAWFISH

Br'er Crawfish th'ows a racklass bluff,
An' he sho do look like fightin' stuff;
But turn 'im loose on a battle-groun',
An' he'll bow 'isself out, an' nuver turn roun'.
But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
But he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE