"That Little Dog"

"That little dog 'ud scratch at that door
And go on a-whinin' two hours before
He'd ever let up! There!--Jane: Let him in.--
(Hah, there, you little rat!) Look at him grin!
Come down off o' that!--
W'y, look at him! (Drat
You! you-rascal-you!)--bring me that hat!
Look out!--He'll snap you!--He wouldn't let
You take it away from him, now you kin bet!
That little rascal's jist natchurly mean.--
I tell you, I never (Git out!! ) never seen
A spunkier little rip! (Scratch to git in,
And now yer a-scratchin' to git out agin!
Jane: Let him out!) Now, watch him from here
Out through the winder!--You notice one ear
Kindo' in side-out, like he holds it?--Well,
He's got a tick in it--I kin tell!
Yes, and he's cunnin'--
Jist watch him a-runnin',
Sidelin'--see!--like he ain't 'plum'd true'
And legs don't 'track' as they'd ort to do:--
Plowin' his nose through the weeds--I jing!
Ain't he jist cuter'n anything!

"W'y, that little dog's got grown-people's sense!--
See how he gits out under the fence?--
And watch him a-whettin' his hind-legs 'fore
His dead square run of a miled er more--
'Cause Noey's a-comin', and Trip allus knows
When Noey's a-comin'--and off he goes!--
Putts out to meet him and--There they come now!
Well-sir! it's raially singalar how
That dog kin tell,--
But he knows as well
When Noey's a-comin' home!--Reckon his smell
'Ud carry two miled?--You needn't to smile--
He runs to meet him, ever'-once-n-a-while,
Two miled and over--when he's slipped away
And left him at home here, as he's done to-day--
'Thout ever knowin' where Noey wuz goin'--
But that little dog allus hits the right way!
Hear him a-whinin' and scratchin' agin?--
(Little tormentin' fice!) Jane: Let him in.

"--You say he ain't there?--
Well now, I declare!--
Lem me limp out and look! ... I wunder where--
Heuh, Trip!--Heuh, Trip!--Heuh, Trip!... There--
There he is!--Little sneak!--What-a'-you-'bout?--
There he is--quiled up as meek as a mouse,
His tail turnt up like a teakittle-spout,
A-sunnin' hisse'f at the side o' the house!
Next time you scratch, sir, you'll haf to git in,
My fine little feller, the best way you kin!
--Noey he learns him sich capers!--And they--
Both of 'em's ornrier every day!--
Both tantalizin' and meaner'n sin--
Allus a--(Listen there!)--Jane: Let him in.

"--O! yer so innocent! hangin' yer head!--
(Drat ye! you'd better git under the bed!)
--Listen at that!--
He's tackled the cat!--
Hah, there! you little rip! come out o' that!--
Git yer blame little eyes scratched out
'Fore you know what yer talkin' about!--
Here! come away from there!--(Let him alone--
He'll snap you, I tell ye, as quick as a bone!)
Hi, Trip!--Hey, here!--What-a'-you-'bout!--
Oo! ouch! 'Ll I'll be blamed!--Blast ye! GIT OUT!
... O, it ain't nothin'--jist scratched me, you see.--
Hadn't no idy he'd try to bite me!
Plague take him!--Bet he'll not try that agin!--
Hear him yelp.--(Pore feller!) Jane: Let him in."