you see the main performance
And don't take the side-show in.

Life is something of a circus:
It has half a hundred rings
Where its jumbled aggregation
Earth's attractions to you brings;
But they leave the heart still heavy
As it stirs with stress and din,
If you see the main performance
And don't take the side-show in!

Voting Around.

"Well, Sam, how's cotton-picking getting along?" asked a white man of
his colored neighbor.

"Hain't doin' any cotton-pickin' yit," replied Sam. "'Lection time's
a-comin' an' I'm jes' a-votin' erroun' tell the candahdates quit
runnin'!"

Little Sermons.

Religion is too often what the other fellow ought to practice.

Good never bears any fruit for you, except when cultivated in your own
heart.

The devil always has a patent medicine recommended to cure trouble and
increase pleasure.

Examine the looks of your conscience. It may be only prejudice that has
placed its hand-baggage in the wrong room.

We are always glad to gather the harvest, which is abundant for the
whole world, but are willing to leave the weed-pulling to the other
fellow.

Love Brings the Song.

What if there's trouble
And what if there's wrong?
God sends the sunshine
And Love brings the song!

What if you stumble
When racing it strong?
Love will uplift you,
For Love brings the song!

Bury your troubles,
And life will be long:
God sends the sunshine
And Love brings the song!

Mistah Cotton.

Mistah Cotton come toh me
In de young spring-time,
En he say, say he toh me,
"Sambo, bet yuh dime,
Dat you'll never pick dat patch!
Dat I'll fool yuh crap,
Fer de weeds'll make a catch
En de bolls'll drap!"

Den I chase him up en down,
En I take his bet;
Chop dat cotton clar toh town;
How dis niggah sweat!
En I plow him sho'ly fine,--
Wo'k him day en night,
En de fust t'ing, how he shine
Wid de rows ob white!

Mistah Cotton, doan't yuh t'ink
Yuh kin fool me now;
I'll dis pick yuh quick es wink,--
Lemme show yuh how!
Pile yuh in de wagon-bed,
Sell yuh, ting a ling!
How de silvah-dallahs spread
Dat sweet song dey sing!

Don't use a telescope to discover your neighbor's faults. Even the sun
has a few spots, but it would be a cold day for you without the glory of
his shine.