One Johnson More, One Smith Less
(Written for Salibelle Royster, Smith's Mills, Kentucky.)
When Zekiel Rastus Johnson had the courage to propose
To lovely Miss Amanda Smith, she turned up her flat nose
And said, "Now Rastus Johnson, how dare you ask of me
To change my 'ristocratic name and Mrs. Johnson be,
When now in the directory, the Johnsons are ahead
Of our most noted family, so 'course I would not wed
With you to make one Johnson more to swell the Johnson line,
While Smiths in number take back seats where they can never shine."
Plate 6
[AUTHOR AT SIX YEARS OLD]