Ephrum Kept Three Dogs

Ephrum Eels he had to scratch durned hard to keep ahead,
--But he always kept three dogs.
He couldn't keep a dollar bill to save his life, they said,
--But he always kept three dogs.
He said he might have been some one if he'd had half a chance,
But getting grub from day to day giv' Ephrum such a dance,
He never got where he could shed the patches off his pants;
--But he always kept three dogs.

Ephrum's young ones never looked as though they was half-fed,
--But he always kept three dogs.
The house would be so cold his folks would have to go to bed;
--But Ephrum kept three dogs.
One was sort of setter dog and two of 'em was houn's,
Their skins was full of Satan; they was always on their roun's,
Till people durned their pictures in half a dozen towns,
--But Ephrum kept his dogs.

They 'bated Ephrum's poll-tax'cause he was too poor to pay,
--But Ephrum kept his dogs.
How he scraped up cash to license 'em it ain't in me to say,
--But I know he kept his dogs.
And when a suff'rin' neighbor ambuscaded 'em,
Eph swore--
Then in a kind of homesick way he hustled round for more;
He struck a lucky bargain and, by thunder, he bought four!
--Jest kept on a-keepin' dogs.