* * * * *

  So all keep still:  An’ nen she gone
    An’ pat the Old Tree, an’ says she,—­
  “Whose air you, Tree?” an’ nen let on
    Like she’s a-list’nin’ to the Tree,—­
  An’ nen she say, “It’s settled,—­’cause
    The Old Tree says he’s all our tree—­
  His trunk belongs to bofe your Pas,
    But shade belongs to you an’ me.”

* * * * *

THE PENALTY OF GENIUS

[Illustration]

  “When little ’Pollus Morton he’s
    A-go’ to speak a piece, w’y, nen
  The Teacher smiles an’ says ’at she’s
    Most proud, of all her little men
  An’ women in her school—­’cause ’Poll
  He allus speaks the best of all.

  An’ nen she’ll pat him on the cheek,
    An’ hold her finger up at you
  Before he speak’; an’ when he speak’
    It’s ist some piece she learn’ him to! 
  ‘Cause he’s her favorite....  An’ she
  Ain’t pop’lar as she ust to be!

  When ’Pollus Morton speaks, w’y, nen
    Ist all the other childern knows
  They’re smart as him an’ smart-again!—­
    Ef they can’t speak an’ got fine clo’es,
  Their Parunts loves ’em more ’n ’Poll-
  Us Morton, Teacher, speech, an’ all!

* * * * *

EVENSONG

  Lay away the story,—­
    Though the theme is sweet,
  There’s a lack of something yet,
    Leaves it incomplete:—­
  There’s a nameless yearning—­
    Strangely undefined—­
  For a story sweeter still
    Than the written kind.

  Therefore read no longer—­
    I’ve no heart to hear
  But just something you make up,
    O my mother dear.—­
  With your arms around me,
    Hold me, folded-eyed,—­
  Only let your voice go on—­
    I’ll be satisfied.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  “THEREFORE READ NO LONGER.”]

* * * * *

[Illustration:  The TWINS]

“IGO AND AGO”

We’re The Twins from Aunt Marinn’s,
Igo and Ago. 
When Dad comes, the show begins!—­
Iram, coram, dago.

Dad he says he named us two
Igo and Ago
For a poem he always knew,
Iram, coram, dago.

Then he was a braw Scotchman—­
Igo and Ago.—­
Now he’s Scotch-Amer-i-can. 
Iram, coram, dago.

“Hey!” he cries, and pats his knee,
“Igo and Ago,
My twin bairnies, ride wi’ me—­
Iram, coram, dago!”

[Illustration]

“Here,” he laughs, “ye’ve each a leg,
Igo and Ago,
Gleg as Tam O’Shanter’s ‘Meg’! 
Iram, coram, dago!”

Then we mount, with shrieks of mirth—­
Igo and Ago,—­
The two gladdest twins on earth! 
Iram, coram, dago.