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How Did You Rest, Last Night?

‘How did you rest, last night?’—
I’ve heard my gran’pap say
Them words a thousand times—that’s right—
Jes them words thataway!
As punctchul-like as morning dast
To ever heave in sight
Gran’pap ‘ud allus haf to ast—
’How did you rest, last night?'
 
Us young-uns used to grin,
At breakfast, on the sly,
And mock the wobble of his chin
And eyebrows belt so high
And kind: _'How did you rest, last night?'_
We’d mumble and let on
Our voices trimbled, and our sight
Was dim, and hearin’ gone.
 
* * * * *
 
Bad as I used to be,
All I’m a-wantin’ is
As puore and ca’m a sleep fer me
And sweet a sleep as his!
And so I pray, on Jedgment Day
To wake, and with its light
See _his_ face dawn, and hear him say—
‘How did you rest, last night?’
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