THE LITTLE MAN.
Reading edition
BY MAMIE LUKE.
A little man, in brand-new suit Of clothes from out the store; Nor speck of dirt nor stain of fruit His natty garments bore. His jacket and his trousers were His first, and spick and span; And pride soon exercised its spur Upon this little man. And felt he prouder than a King In his complete array; To see him round the parlor swing Was better than a play. Deep in his trousers pockets thrust, Make sure, were both his hands, And richer he with cents in trust Than owner large of lands. "Papa," he cried, as stopped he short Beside his father's knee— "Papa, me loves oo tos oo bought 'Ese nice new tose for me; And, mammy, me be 'eal dood boy, An' teep 'ese tose so tean; Me do an' buy me pooty toy, To p'ay in house, I mean. "Me on'y 'tay a 'ittle w'ile, An' tum 'ight in aden, An' den till dinner me will p'ay 'Ith Donnie Hay an' Ben. Me teep my tose so tean, papa, Me dit on dem no dirt; Me do away f'om house not far, An' 'on't fell down dit hurt." An hour passed on; the little man Returned with face all blood; Without a cap in-doors he ran, His clothes befouled with mud. Between his sobs, for breath hard pressed, A tale of strife he told; "'At Donnie Hay 'tepped on my foot, An' den we bof taut hold, "An' felled all down an' 'olled all 'ound; He bite my fingis sore; Me sc'atch his face, my nose he pound, An' b'an'-new tows is tore; Me hit 'im bat, an' pulled he hair So hard I ever tan. Me lick him, pa, an' made him kye, An' I's a 'ittle man!"
FUN ON THE ICE—"SNAPPING THE WHIP."
