tay en stay!
When dis niggah wuzzent lookin', all dem good things run away!

Caught on the Fly.

When Hope comes on the scene, Trouble has urgent business over in the
next settlement.

Don't wait to plant a flower for your neighbor until it has to blossom
beside his tomb-stone.

Growling at the weather may give the tongue plenty of exercise, but it
never buys meat and potatoes or swells the bank account.

Be confident. No coward heart ever won an important battle, and the
battle-field of life is the one that demands the fullest courage.

Little Sermons.

Be thankful as long as there is a buttered side to your bread; and when
the butter runs out, thank God for the bread!

Charity covers the sins all right, but many a poor sinner gets mighty
short of blankets in the cold winter times of folly.

One heart of love and two glad lips of song have lifted many a mediocre
soul up the slopes of happiness to the bright, eternal morning.

That New Year Resolution.

Dat New Yaar Resolution
He come to me en say:
"Ah likes de looks ob dis heah place,--
Ah hope yuh'll lemme stay!"

O, listen, listen, bruddehs!
Ah axed de angel in;
Ole Satan come en raised a row,
Ah tuhned him out again!

Dat New Yaar Resolution,
He scrumpshus company;
But dat fust day Ah's satisfied
He all too good foh me!

O, listen, listen, bruddehs!
A'll nebbeh tole yuh why,
But when ole Satan come erlong
Ah knowed it hed toh die!

Dat New Yaar Resolution!
Ah hollahed toh him: "Say!
Dis house am mighty crowded;
Ah wush yuh'd go erway!"

O, listen, listen, bruddehs!
Ah choke him in de th'oat;
En when ole Satan come erlong,
He wrop him in his coat!

"Said Governor Tom."

Said Governor Tom to the law-making boys:
"You are green at the bus'ness, I know;
It is well that you move rather slow;
If you'll let me advise,
You'll be worthy and wise,
And the people secure in their joys,--"
Said Governor Tom to the boys.

Said Governor Tom to the law-making boys:
"I will warn you of dangers that lurk
In the ways of your dangerous work;
If the lobbies entice,
You should take my advice,
And turn a deaf ear to their noise,--"
Said Governor Tom to the boys.

Said Governor Tom to the law-making boys:
"In the passing of measures immense
I