Prior to Miss Belle's Appearance

What makes you come HERE fer, Mister,
So much to our house? -- SAY?

Come to see our big sister! --
An' Charley he says 'at you kissed her
An' he ketched you, th'uther day! --
Didn' you, Charley? -- But we p'omised Belle
An' crossed our heart to never to tell --
'Cause SHE gived us some o' them-er
Chawk'lut-drops 'at you bringed to her!

Charley he's my little b'uther --
An' we has a-mostest fun,
Don't we, Charley? -- Our Muther,
Whenever we whips one anuther,
Tries to whip US -- an' we RUN --
Don't we, Charley? -- An' nen, bime-by,
Nen she gives us cake -- an' pie --
Don't she, Charley? -- when we come in
An' pomise never to do it ag'in!

HE'S named Charley. -- I'm WILLIE --
An' I'm got the purtiest name!

But Uncle Bob HE calls me "Billy" --
Don't he, Charley? -- 'N' our filly
We named "Billy," the same
Ist like me! An' our Ma said
'At "Bob puts foolishnuss into our head! " --
Didn' she, Charley? -- An' SHE don't know
Much about BOYS! -- 'Cause Bob said so!

Baby's a funniest feller!

Nain't no hair on his head --
IS they, Charley? -- It's meller
Wite up there! An' ef Belle er
Us ask wuz WE that way, Ma said, --
"Yes; an' yer PA'S head wuz soft as that,
An' it's that way yet! " -- An' Pa grabs his hat
An' says, "Yes, childern, she's right about Pa --
'Cause that's the reason he married yer Ma!"

An' our Ma says 'at "Belle couldn'
Ketch nothin' at all but ist 'BOWS! " --
An' PA says 'at "you're soft as puddun! " --
An' UNCLE BOB says "you're a good-un --
'Cause he can tell by yer nose! "-
Didn' he, Charley? -- An' when Belle'll play
In the poller on th' pianer, some day,
Bob makes up funny songs about you,
Till she gits mad-like he wants her to!

Our sister FANNY she's 'LEVEN
Years old! 'At's mucher 'an _I_ --
Ain't it, Charley? . I'm seven! --
But our sister Fanny's in HEAVEN!

Nere's where you go ef you die! --
Don't you, Charley? -- Nen you has WINGS --
IST LIKE FANNY! -- an' PURTIEST THINGS! --
Don't you, Charley? -- An' nen you can FLY --
Ist fly-an' EVER'thing! . I Wisht I'D die!

End of title

Prior to Miss Belle's Appearance

James Whitcomb Riley

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