OUR TWO OPINIONS.

US two wuz boys when we fell out,—

Nigh to the age uv my youngest now;

Don’t rec’lect what ’t wuz about,

Some small deeff’rence, I’ll allow.

Lived next neighbours twenty years,

A-hatin’ each other, me ’nd Jim,—

He havin’ his opinyin uv me,

’nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.

Grew up together ’nd wouldn’t speak,

Courted sisters, ’nd marr’d ’em, too;

’tended same meetin’-house oncet a week,

A-hatin’ each other through ’nd through!

But when Abe Linkern asked the West

F’r soldiers, we answered,—me ’nd Jim,—

He havin’ his opinyin uv me,

’nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.

But down in Tennessee one night

Ther wuz sound uv firin’ fur away,

’nd the sergeant allowed ther’d be a fight

With the Johnnie Rebs some time nex’ day;

’nd as I wuz thinkin’ uv Lizzie ’nd home

Jim stood afore me, long ’nd slim,—

He havin’ his opinyin uv me,

’nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.

“US TWO SHUCK HANDS.”

Seemed like we knew ther wuz goin’ to be

Serious trouble f’r me ’nd him;

Us two shuck hands, did Jim ’nd me,

But never a word from me or Jim!

290He went his way ’nd I went mine,

’nd into the battle’s roar went we,—

I havin’ my opinyin uv Jim,

’nd he havin’ his opinyin uv me.

Jim never come back from the war again,

But I hain’t forgot that last, last night

When, waitin’ f’r orders, us two men

Made up ’nd shuck hands, afore the fight.

291’nd after it all, it’s soothin’ to know

That here I be ’nd yonder’s Jim,—

He havin’ his opinyin uv me,

’nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.

Eugene Field.