That Little Dog

"That little dog 'ud scratch at that door
And go on a-whinin' two hours before
He'd ever let up! _There! _ -- Jane: Let him in. --
(Hah, there, you little rat! ) Look at him grin!

Come down off o' that! --
W'y, look at him! (_Drat
You! you-rascal-you! _) -- bring me that hat!

Look _out! _ -- He'll snap _you! _ -- _He_ wouldn't let
_You_ take it away from him, now you kin bet!

That little rascal's jist natchurly mean. --
I tell you, I _never_ (_Git out! ! _) never seen
A _spunkier_ little rip! (_Scratch to git in_,
And _now_ yer a-scratchin' to git _out_ agin!

Jane: Let him out! ) Now, watch him from here
Out through the winder! -- You notice one ear
Kindo' _in_ side-_out_, like he holds it? -- Well,
_He's_ got a _tick_ in it -- _I_ kin tell!

Yes, and he's cunnin' --
Jist watch him a-runnin',
_Sidelin'_ -- see! -- like he ain't '_plum'd true_'
And legs don't 'track' as they'd ort to do: --
Plowin' his nose through the weeds -- I jing!

Ain't he jist cuter'n anything!

"W'y, that little dog's got _grown_-people's sense! --
See how he gits out under the fence? --
And watch him a-whettin' his hind-legs 'fore
His dead square run of a miled er more --
'Cause _Noey_'s a-comin', and Trip allus knows
When _Noey_'s a-comin' -- and off he goes! --
Putts out to meet him and -- _There they come now! _
Well-sir! it's raially singalar how
That dog kin _tell_, --
But he knows as well
When Noey's a-comin' home! -- Reckon his _smell_
'Ud carry two miled? -- You needn't to _smile_ --
He runs to meet _him_, ever'-once-n-a-while,
Two miled and over -- when he's slipped away
And left him at home here, as he's done to-day --
'Thout ever knowin' where Noey wuz goin' --
But that little dog allus hits the right way!

Hear him a-whinin' and scratchin' agin? --
(_Little tormentin' fice! _) Jane: Let him in.

" -- You say he ain't _there? _ --
Well now, I declare! --
Lem _me_ limp out and look! . I wunder where --
_Heuh_, Trip! -- _Heuh_, Trip! -- _Heuh_, Trip! . _There_ --
_There_ he is! -- Little sneak! -- What-a'-you-'bout? --
_There_ he is -- quiled up as meek as a mouse,
His tail turnt up like a teakittle-spout,
A-sunnin' hisse'f at the side o' the house!
_Next_ time you scratch, sir, you'll haf to git in,
My fine little feller, the best way you kin!

-- Noey _he_ learns him sich capers! -- And they --
_Both_ of 'em's ornrier every day! --
_Both_ tantalizin' and meaner'n sin --
Allus a -- (_Listen there! _) -- Jane: Let him in.

" -- O! yer so _innocent! _ hangin' yer head! --
(Drat ye! you'd _better_ git under the bed! )
-- Listen at that! --
He's tackled the cat! --
Hah, there! you little rip! come out o' that! --
Git yer blame little eyes scratched out
'Fore you know what yer talkin' about! --
_Here! _ come away from there! -- (Let him alone --
He'll snap _you_, I tell ye, as quick as a bone! )
_Hi_, Trip! -- _Hey_, here! -- What-a'-you-'bout! --
_Oo! ouch! _ 'Ll I'll be blamed! -- _Blast ye! _ GIT OUT!
. O, it ain't nothin' -- jist _scratched_ me, you see. --
Hadn't no idy he'd try to bite _me_!
_Plague take him! _ -- Bet he'll not try _that_ agin! --
Hear him yelp. -- (_Pore feller! _) Jane: Let him in. "

End of title

That Little Dog

James Whitcomb Riley

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