WHO dat knockin’ at de do’? Why, Ike Johnson, —yes, fu’ sho! Come in, Ike. I’s mighty glad You come down. I t’ought you’s mad

The snow lies deep upon the ground… And winter’s brightness all around Decks bravely out the forest sere, With jewels of the brave old year. The coasting crowd upon the hill

(Lines on reading ‘Driftwood.’) Driftwood gathered here and there Along the beach of time; Now and then a chip of truth ‘Mid boards and boughs of rhyme;

‘Twixt a smile and a tear, ’Twixt a song and a sigh, 'Twixt the day and the dark, When the night draweth nigh. Ah, sunshine may fade

W’en daih’s chillun in de house, Dey keep on a—gittin’ tall; But de folks don’ seem to see Dat dey’s growin’ up at all, 'Twell dey fin’ out some fine day

YOU kin talk about yer anthems An’ yer arias an’ sich, An’ yer modern choir—singin’ That you think so awful rich; But you orter heerd us youngsters

'Tis fine to play In the fragrant hay, And romp on the golden load; To ride old Jack To the barn and back,

The mist has left the greening pla… The dew—drops shine like fairy rai… The coquette rose awakes again Her lovely self adorning. The Wind is hiding in the trees,

THERE are no beaten paths to Gl… There are no rules to compass grea… Each for himself must cleave a pat… And press his own way forward in t… Smooth is the way to ease and calm…

She gave a rose, And I kissed it and pressed it. I love her, she knows, And my action confessed it. She gave me a rose,

Win’ a—blowin’ gentle so de san’ l… San’ a little heavy f’om de rain, All de pa’ms a—wavin’ an’ a—weavin… Sighin’ lak a sinnah—soul in pain. Alligator grinnin’ by de ol’ lagoo…

The word is writ that he who runs… What is the passing breath of eart… But to snatch glory from the hands… That is to be, to live, to strive… A poor Virginia cabin gave the se…

THE cloud looked in at the window… And said to the day, ‘Be dark!’ And the roguish rain tapped hard o… To stifle the song of the lark. The wind sprang up in the tree top…

Dey was talkin’ in de cabin, dey w… But I listened kin’ o’ keerless,… An’ on Sunday, too, I noticed, de… Stan’in’ all erroun’ de roadside w… But I did n’t t’ink erbout it 'tw…

WHEN labor is light and the morn… I find it a pleasure beyond all co… To hitch up my nag and go hurrying… And take Katie May for a ride int… For bumpety—bump goes the wagon,