MY CONSCIENCE

SOMETIMES my Conscience says, says he, “Don’t you know me?” And I, says I, skeered through and through, “Of course I do. You air a nice chap ever’ way, I’m here to say! You make me cry—you make me pray, And all them good things thataway— That is, at night. Where do you stay Durin’ the day?” And then my Conscience says, onc’t more, “You know me—shore?” “Oh, yes,” says I, a-trimblin’ faint, “You’re jes’ a saint! Your ways is all so holy-right, I love you better ever’ night You come around,—’tel plum daylight, When you air out o’ sight!” And then my Conscience sort o’ grits His teeth, and spits On his two hands and grabs, of course, Some old remorse, And beats me with the big butt-end O’ that thing—‘tel my clostest friend ’Ud hardly know me. “Now,” says he, “Be keerful as you’d orto be And allus think o’ me!”