My dear old friends -- It jes beats all, The way you write a letter So's ever' _last_ line beats the _first_, And ever' _next_-un's better! -- W'y, ever' fool-thing you putt down You make so inte_rest_in', A feller, readin' of 'em all, Can't tell which is the _best_-un.
It's all so comfortin' and good, 'Pears-like I almost _hear_ ye And git more sociabler, you know, And hitch my cheer up near ye And jes smile on ye like the sun Acrosst the whole per-rairies In Aprile when the thaw's begun And country couples marries.
It's all so good-old-fashioned like To _talk_ jes like we're _thinkin'_, Without no hidin' back o' fans And giggle-un and winkin', Ner sizin' how each-other's dressed -- Like some is allus doin', -- "_Is_ Marthy Ellen's basque ben _turned_ Er shore-enough a new-un! " --
Er "ef Steve's city-friend haint jes 'A _lee_tle kindo'-sorto" -- Er "wears them-air blame eye-glasses Jes 'cause he hadn't ort to?"
And so straight on, _dad-libitum_, Tel all of us feels, _some_way, Jes like our "comp'ny" wuz the best When we git up to come 'way!
That's why I like _old_ friends like you, -- Jes 'cause you're so _abidin'_. -- Ef I was built to live "_fer keeps_,"
My principul residin' Would be amongst the folks 'at kep' Me allus _thinkin'_ of 'em, And sorto' eechin' all the time To tell 'em how I love 'em. --
Sich folks, you know, I jes love so I wouldn't live without 'em, Er couldn't even drap asleep But what I _dreamp'_ about 'em, -- And ef we minded God, I guess We'd _all_ love one-another Jes like one fam'bly, -- me and Pap And Madaline and Mother.
End of title
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