Page:Lyrics of Lowly Life Dunbar (1896).djvu/226



Ain't seen no sich fancy dressin' sence las' quah'tly meetin' day;

Gals all dressed in silks an' satins, not a wrinkle ner a crease,

Eyes a-battin', teeth a-shinin', haih breshed back ez slick ez grease;

Sku'ts all tucked an' puffed an' ruffled, evah blessed seam an' stitch;

Ef you 'd seen 'em wif deir mistus, could n't swahed to which was which.

Men all dressed up in Prince Alberts, swaller-tails 'u'd tek yo' bref!

I cain't tell you nothin' 'bout it, y' ought to seen it fu' yo'se'f.

Who was dah? Now who you askin'? How you 'spect I gwine to know?

You mus' think I stood an' counted evahbody at de do'.

Ole man Babah's house-boy Isaac, brung dat gal, Malindy Jane,

Huh a-hangin' to his elbow, him a-struttin' wif a cane;