aps out in de gloomin' dark,
An' even ef he's boun' for a harmless lark,
He favors de devil an' he keeps sech hours
Dat he seems in cahoot wid de evil powers.
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

INCUBATOR CHICKENS

Dem inkybator chickens dat's hatched by de clock,
Wid a lamp for love, is lonesome stock;
Dey feeds in droves, but dey envies de others
Dat scratches for grubs wid any ol' mothers.
An' dey ain't by deyselves, po' orphans, in dat--
No, dey ain't by deyselves in dat.

[Illustration]

THE FIREFLY

Br'er Lightnin'-bug is a gay yo'ng spark,
But he nuver is yit put out de dark;
He shines for 'isself in 'is zigzag flight,
An' he's middlin' sho he's de sou'ce of light.
But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
But he ain't by 'isself in dat.

THE THISTLE

De thistle-stalk sends up a noble bloom
Wid de shape of a flower an' de thought of a plume,
But its prickle-y ways turn friendship down;
So it stands all alone, in its velvet gown.
An' it ain't by its lonesome self in dat--
No, it ain't by itself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE GRAY SQUIRREL

De gray squir'l lives a nachel life,
Wid friends an' foes an' chillen an' wife;
But whenever he gits his picture took,
He snatches dat nut, to appear in de book.
But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
But he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

LOOK OUT FOR MISTER BEE

Look out for Mister Bee in de punkin-flower!
Plenty gallinippers in de grass!
Mighty close tie 'twix' wings an' stings
Better let de honey-bee pass!
Z--Z--Z, Z, Z!
Better let de honey-bee pass!

White-face bumblebee--white folks' ways--
Never give a sassy answer back!
But don't you trus' de black-face, no matter what he says!
Give de nigger bumblebee de track!
Z--Z--Z, Z, Z!
Give de nigger bumblebee de track![2]

[Illustration]

THE ROSE

When Sis' Rose th'ows open her heart _too proud_,
She blooms mighty brief in Beauty's crowd;
'Ca'ze the rains beat in an' de bees make free
'Tel de heart o' de rose is sad to see.
An' you ain't by yo'self, Sis' Rose, in dat--
No, you ain't by yo'self in dat.

[Illustration]

THE LOCOMOTIVE

Dey say Sis' Ingi