d ruther be blind an' dumb an' deef
Dan to hold a conversation wid a "low-life" frog!
But he ain't no lonesome toady in dat--
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

SPARROWS

Dey say dem Sparrers come crost de seas
To eat our surplus grubs an' fleas;
But dey's whupped our birds off'n dis plantation,
Tell we craves to constric' dey immigration.
An' dey ain't by deyselves in dat, in dat--
An' dey ain't by deyselves in dat.

[Illustration]

THE FLY

Wid dem suctious foots, seem lak Br'er Fly
Mought draw down health ef he trod de sky;
But he's so onpartic'lar whar he roams
Dat he's got 'isself screened out o' quality homes.
An' he ain't by 'isself outcas' like dat--
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE LITTLE CHICKEN

Little yaller fluff-ball, one day out,
Steps mighty high while he picks all about;
Never sees de egg-shell layin' in 'is track,
Much less the little piece stickin' on 'is back.
But he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
But he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE SCARE-CROW

Br'er Scare-crow's built to suit 'is job
Wid flappin' legs an' arms dat bob;
He ain't got brains for discontent
So he works widout no argument.
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
No, he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE YELLOW ROSE

Dey's a sweet plantation, yaller-buff rose
Dat in my ricollection grows;
In my ol' dreams she seems to wait
Whar she stood an' bloomed by de love-vine gate
An' I ain't by myself in dreams like dat--
No, I ain't by myself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE AMBITIOUS COW

Sis' Twis'-horn Brindle is a bothersome cow,
She's boun' to raise a ruction an' she don't keer how;
She craves to be de bell-cow an' lead off wid a clang,
So it's all a man kin do to make 'er gallup wid de gang.
An' she ain't by 'erself in dat, in dat--
An' she ain't by 'erself in dat.

[Illustration]

TRIED BY FIRE

De sugar-cane stands so proud an' smart,
You'd nuver suspicion it sweet at de heart,
But to prove its sweets it yields its will
To be tried by fire an' ground in de mill.
An' it ain't by itself in dat, in dat--
No, it ain't by itself in dat.

[Illustration]

JACK-O'LANTERN

Sence he los' 'is b