THE ROSE

When Sis' Rose th'ows open her heart too proud,
She blooms mighty brief in Beauty's crowd;
'Ca'ze the rains beat in an' de bees make free
'Tel de heart o' de rose is sad to see.
An' you ain't by yo'self, Sis' Rose, in dat—
No, you ain't by yo'self in dat.

THE LOCOMOTIVE

Dey say Sis' Ingine's fiercest scream
Don't mean nothin' but lettin' off steam,
But wid so much wrackage behin' 'er back,
Seem like she say: "Git out o' my track!"
An' she ain't by 'erself, old Mis, in dat—
No, she ain't by 'erself in dat.

THE GOAT

No matter how much she strive to 'spire,
Sis' Nannie Goat's measured 'g'inst some'h'n' higher;
"First cousin to a sheep" an' "de po' man's cow,"
Is hol'-down luck, come when, come how.
An' she ain't by 'erself helt down like dat—
No, she ain't by 'erself in dat.