Page:Scribner's Monthly, Volume 12 (May–October 1876).djvu/294

 288 BRIC-A-BRAC. Nebuchadnezzar. BY 1RWIN RUSSELL. You, Nebuchadnezzah, whoa, sah ! Whar is you tryin' to go, sah ? I'd hab you for to know, sah, I's a-holdin" ob de lines. You better stop dat prancin"; You's pow'ful fond ob dancin', But I'll bet my yeah's advancin' Dat I'll cure you ob your shines. Look heah, mule ! Better min' out Fus' t'ing you know you'll fin' out How quick I'll wear dis line out On your ugly stubbo'n back. You needn't try to steal up An' lif dat precious heel up; You's got to plow dis fiel* up, You has, sah, for a fac'. Dar, dafs de way to do it ! He's comin' right down to it; Jes' watch him plowin' t'roo it ! Dis nigger ain't no fool. Some folks dey would 'a' beat him ; Now, dat would only heat him I know jes' how to treat him: You mus' reason wid a mule. He minds me like a nigger. If he was only bigger He'd fotch a mighty figger, He would, I tell you ! Yes, sah ! See how he keeps a-clicktn' ! He's as gentle as a chicken, An' nebber thinks o' kickin' Whoa dar! Nebuchadnezzah! Is dis heah me, or not me ? Or is de debbil got me? Was dat a cannon shot me? Hab I laid heah more'n a week? Dat mule do kick amazin' ! De beast was sp'iled in raisin' By now I 'spect he's grazin' On de oder side de creek.