ANGLEWORM

"I could stand de hook," says de angleworm,
"An' a lily-brook wouldn't make me squirm,
But I can't help wrigglin' ag'in' my fate;
It breaks me all up to be used for bait."
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE CHIMNEY-SWALLOW

Wid 'is nest in de flue whar de suctions blow,
Storms due above an' fire below,
No wonder Br'er Swaller sags an' sways
Like a pusson ableeged to dodge bofe ways.
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat.

CATCHING DOODLE-BUGS

Little picaninnies, fishin' in de doodle-bug holes.
Wid a "spit for luck," an' straws for poles,
Show pyore delight in de fisherman's aim
All disp'opo'tioned to de game.
An' dey ain't by deyselves in dat, in dat--
An' dey ain't by deyselves in dat.

[Illustration]

THE PORCUPINE

Sis' Porcupine, wid 'er bristles all set
In a pompado' style, is waitin' yet,
An' she can't understan', whilst she puckers 'er mug,
De sca'city o' kisses an' de absent hug.
But she ain't by 'er lonesome self in dat--
No, she ain't by 'erself in dat.

[Illustration]

ANTS

Dem Ants is sho' got savin' ways
An' even de Scripture 'lows 'em praise;
But dey hoa'ds for deyselves f'om day to day
An' dey stings any man wha' gits in de way.
An' dey ain't no new co'poration in dat--
No, dey ain't by deyselves in dat.

[Illustration]

THE PARROT

Sis' Tin-cage Polly wid de roamin' nose
Dat roams f'om 'er eyes tel it p'ints to 'er toes,
She keeps up a ratlin' talkin' pace
To turn off attention f'om de shape of 'er face.
An' you ain't by yo'self, Sis' Polly, in dat--
No, you ain't by yo'self in dat.

[Illustration]

THE RATTLE-SNAKE

Br'er Rattle-snake rattles befo' he springs,
But he warns too late to 'scape 'is stings;
His high-class manners don't count for much
'Ca'ze dey grafted on to a sarpent's touch.
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat--
An' he ain't by 'isself in dat.

[Illustration]

THE PERSIMMON

Is you little gals, growin' into women,
Ever tasted a snappy young persimmin?
It takes a hard frost to make it sweet,
An' it's ol' an' swiveled 'fo' it's fit to eat!
But it ain't by itself, sharp chillen, in dat--
No, it