A-lookin’ up at me with love an’ pride,
His tail a-waggin’, an’ his ears raised high....
I wonder why my Jim-dog had ter die?
He was a friend ter folks; he didn’t bite;
He never snapped at no one in th’ night;
He didn’t hate a soul; an’ he was game!
An’ yet ... a spark o’light, a dartin’ flame
Across th’ dark, a sneaky bit o’ lead,
An’ he was ... dead!
They say there ain’t no heaven-land fer him,