olasses, in the Spring,
Er butchered in the Fall, they smiled
An' sheered with all jist ever'thing!--

* * * * *

[Illustration: "THEY WAS GOD'S PEOPLE."]

* * * * *

The good, old-fashioned people--
The hale, hard-working people--
The kindly country people
'At Uncle used to know!

He tells about 'em, lots o' times,
Till we'd all ruther hear
About 'em than the Nurs'ry Rhymes
Er Fairies--mighty near!--
Only sometimes he stops so long
An' then talks on so low an' slow,
It's purt'-nigh sad as any song
To listen to him talkin' so
Of the good, old-fashioned people--
The hale, hard-working people--
The kindly country people
'At Uncle used to know!

* * * * *

THE BEST TIMES

[Illustration]

_When Old Folks they wuz young like us_
_An' little as you an' me_,--

[Illustration]

_Them wuz the best times ever wuz_
_Er ever goin' to be_!

* * * * *

[Illustration: "THEM WUZ THE BEST TIMES EVER WUZ."]

* * * * *

"HIK-TEE-DIK!"

THE WAR-CRY OF BILLY AND BUDDY

[Illustration]

When two little boys--renowned but for noise--
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!--
May hurt a whole school, and the head it employs,
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
Such loud and hilarious pupils indeed
Need learning--and yet something further they need,
Though fond hearts that love them may sorrow and bleed.
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!

O the schoolmarm was cool, and in no wise a fool;
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
And in ruling her ranks it was _her_ rule to _rule_;
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
So when these two pupils conspired, every day,
Some mad piece of mischief, with whoop and hoo-ray,
That hurt yet defied her,--how happy were they!--
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!

At the ring of the bell they 'd rush in with a yell--
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
And they'd bang the school-door till the plastering fell,
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
They'd clinch as they came, and pretend not to see
As they knocked her desk over--then, _My!_ and _O-me!_
How awfully sorry they'd both seem to be!
Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!

[Illustration]

This trick seemed so neat and so safe a conceit,--
Hik-tee