UNKNOWN

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 66, 17 August 1885, Page 4

UNKNOWN

I knows what .you mean, I',m a-tlyliig ; Well, I ain't no worso nor {lie rest; Taint tliemtlmt does nothiu' but prayio'; I-reckons. as is the best. I ain't had no father nor mother ,- A-telliu' rrie wronj? from tho right ; . . The streets ain't the place, is it parson ? For sayin' yeur prayers of a night. I never knovved who was my father, And' toother, sho died lou<j ago ;, ; . The foUis here, they, brought; tne up sojne.- --■/. hows^- •'. . ' / '■• It ain|t,much they've v tej^rhed rn,e; I .-,: ■';-'■." kno.w.r;w ■'■■-,- : . I »: ''■*$"■ '..'"*'.': "' " Yet I thinks they will b» sorry 1 , aad'iniss - me,- . ' •:'•''*'■ '■•.'■• - 1 When took right away from this here-; For sometimes I catclißß them 'slyly A-wipin 1 away bf a tear. • And they says as they hopes I'll get' bet-, ter.; • , ; ' ". : ,-,:••■ ' I can't fee no worse whohTin dead ; I ain't had so jolly a time.on't, ' A-dyin' by inches for bread. I've stood m those streets precious v often, , ; ■'■'-■■ ; "When the wot's heen a-pouria'dpwn, And.l ain't had so much o« a mouthful, - Nor never, so much as a I've looked m theoi ihopß with the win •■f-dera : . -'. '; ' ' . ',' ■ ■ ' Chockef ul of vVhat's tidy to eat, • ' 4 And I've heard gents ' a-larfin' and y talkin', i ..:s; Whilp I drops like a dorg at their feet. But its -kind of you Mr, to sit by. vie; , , I ain't now afeered b your face ; , And I.hopes^if it's true as you tell me, * We'll meetin that t'other place. I'hopes as yon'lL come when it's overi . "And talk to theni liore m the court>^ They'll mind what you says, you're "a parson; There won't be no larkin 1 -nor ißport. ' You'll tell them as how I died happy; <And ho pin' to see them again; That I'm gone to that .land where -the '.:'■■• weary. ■ : -^ •> • iß'freed of his trouble and pain.. > Now open that Book as yon give ihe— I feels as it never tell lies — ". And read me them wordg-r-you know^ " ' guvnor— As.isgood -for a^ohap when he' dies. There, give me your hand, sir y and thanke e , ' For the good 'as you've done a poor la«- . , v ■■ ■ Who knows,' had they teached m«,some better, ) I mightn't have grown up sobad, )-.'.,,'■ — Matthias Barb. ;