candidate,
But you couldn't sca'cely find 'im on a map o' de State.
But he ain't by 'isself lost out, like dat--
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE CATERPILLAR

Whilst she eats de groun' f'om onder 'er feet,
Sis' Caterpillar's weavin' 'er windin'-sheet;
But 'er red eyes shine an' 'er grass-green-hair,
An' 'er short life's bright, so she don't care.
An' she ain't by 'erself in dat, in dat--
An' she ain't by 'erself in dat.

[Illustration]

DR. DRAKE

Ol' Dr. Drake wid 'is college waddle
An' Latin inscriptioms on 'is noddle,
Would part wid 'is gait an' 'is shimmerin' back
To perscribe a _crowin'-powder_ an' nuver say "Quack!"
But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
But he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE PEACOCK

Br'er Peacock 'lows he's a 'ristocrat,
Wid mighty fine clo'es, an' vain at dat;
He'll answer yo' glance wid col' surprise
An' look you over wid a thousan' eyes!
But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
But he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE ALLIGATOR

Br'er Alligator kin grin a mile,
But dey ain't no inducemint in his smile;
Whilst he ain't no race-horse, yit dey say
A little alligator goes a mighty long way.
But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
But he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE TERRAPIN

Br'er Tarrapin draws in 'is head so knowin',
You can't tell whether he's comin' or goin',
But _his_ mind ain't mixed--he's layin' low
Tel he sees which way he's obleeged to go.
An' he ain't no new politician in dat--
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE DANDELION

De dandelion flower blooms out so young
Wid a look in its face like a sassy tongue,
Den it grows light-headed wid self-conceit
Wid a flighty ol' age, for full defeat.
An' it ain't by itself, pert chillen, in dat--
No, it ain't by itself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE CUD

"Life's give an' take," Sis' Cow, she laugh.
So I gives my milk an' dey takes my calf."
An' when contentment's hard to fin',
She chaws 'er cud to ease 'er min'.
And you ain't by yo'self, Sis' Cow, in dat--
No, you ain't by yo'self in dat.

[Illustration]

THE MIRROR

Br'er Donkey, drinkin' at de brook,
Surveys hissel