Tell your love where the roses blow,
    And the hearts of the lilies quiver,
  Not in the city’s gleam and glow,
    But down by a half-sunned river. 
  Not in the crowded ball-room’s glare,
    That would be fatal, Marie, Marie,
  How can she answer you then and there? 
    So come then and stroll with me, my dear,
    Down where the birds call, Marie, Marie.

SCAMP

  Ain’t it nice to have a mammy
    W’en you kin’ o’ tiahed out
  Wid a-playin’ in de meddah,
    An’ a-runnin’ roun’ about
  Till hit’s made you mighty hongry,
    An’ yo’ nose hit gits to know
  What de smell means dat ‘s a-comin’
    F’om de open cabin do’? 
      She wash yo’ face,
      An’ mek yo’ place,
    You’s hongry as a tramp;
  Den hit’s eat you suppah right away,
    You sta’vin’ little scamp.

  W’en you’s full o’ braid an’ bacon,
    An’ dey ain’t no mo’ to eat,
  An’ de lasses dat’s a-stickin’
    On yo’ face ta’se kin’ o’ sweet,
  Don’ you t’ink hit’s kin’ o’ pleasin’
    Fu’ to have som’body neah
  Dat’ll wipe yo’ han’s an’ kiss you
    Fo’ dey lif’ you f’om you’ cheah? 
      To smile so sweet,
      An’ wash yo’ feet,
    An’ leave ’em co’l an’ damp;
  Den hit’s come let me undress you, now
    You lazy little scamp.

  Don’ yo’ eyes git awful heavy,
    An’ yo’ lip git awful slack,
  Ain’t dey som’p’n’ kin’ o’ weaknin’
    In de backbone of yo’ back? 
  Don’ yo’ knees feel kin’ o’ trimbly,
    An’ yo’ head go bobbin’ roun’,
  W’en you says yo’ “Now I lay me,”
    An’ is sno’in on de “down”? 
      She kiss yo’ nose,
      She kiss yo’ toes,
    An’ den tu’n out de lamp,
  Den hit’s creep into yo’ trunnel baid,
    You sleepy little scamp.

WADIN’ IN DE CRICK

  Days git wa’m an’ wa’mah,
    School gits mighty dull,
  Seems lak dese hyeah teachahs
    Mus’ feel mussiful. 
  Hookey’s wrong, I know it
    Ain’t no gent’man’s trick;
  But de aih’s a-callin’,
    “Come on to de crick.”

  Dah de watah’s gu’glin’
    Ovah shiny stones,
  Des hit’s ve’y singin’
    Seems to soothe yo’ bones. 
  Wat’s de use o’ waitin’
    Go on good an’ quick: 
  Dain’t no fun lak dis hyeah
    Wadin’ in de crick.

  W’at dat jay-b’ud sayin’? 
    Bettah shet yo’ haid,
  Fus’ t’ing dat you fin’ out,
    You’ll be layin’ daid. 
  Jay-bu’ds sich a tattlah,
    Des seem lak his trick
  Fu’ to tell on folkses
    Wadin’ in de crick.

  Wilier boughs a-bendin’
    Hidin’ of de sky,
  Wavin’ kin’ o’ frien’ly
    Ez de win’ go by,
  Elum trees a-shinin’,
    Dahk an’ green an’ thick,
  Seem to say, “I see yo’
    Wadin’ in de crick.”