"Chile! Ize sorry for ye, but Ize drawin' nigh dat shady path! Hark! I kin h'ah de footsteps of de mighty parade of speerits marchin' down to de 'broad ribber! Dey will dig a grave an' lay my ole bones dar, an' in a week all de world but you will forgit me. But doan' grieve, chile. De Lawd isn't gwine to shet de gates on me 'cause I'm ole an' po' an' black. I kin see dem shinin' way up dar—see our boy at the gate—h'ah de sweetest music dat angels kin play!—Light de lamp, chile, 'cause de night has come!"
"Oh! he's gwine—he's gwine!" she wailed, as her tears fell upon his face.
"Chile! hold my han'! Ober heah am de path! I kin see men an' women an' chil'en marchin' 'long! Furder down am de sunlight. It shines on de great ribber! Ober de ribber am—de—gates—of——"
Of heaven! On earth, old and poor and low—beyond the gates, an angel with the rest.
THE TRAMP
ANONYMOUS
Now, is that any way for to treat a poor man?
I just asked for a penny or two;
Don't get your back up, and call me a "bum,"
Because I have nothing to do.
Once I was strong and handsome,
Had plenty of money and clothes:
That was afore I tippled,
And whisky had painted my nose.
Down in the Lehigh Valley
Me and my people grew.
Gentlemen, I was a farmer,
And a very good farmer, too.
Me and my wife, and Nellie,—
Nellie was just sixteen;
And she was the prettiest creature
That ever that valley had seen.