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Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow/Appreciation

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4638688Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow — Appreciation1905Paul Laurence Dunbar

APPRECIATION

MY muvver's ist the nicest one'At ever lived wiz folks:She lets you have ze mostes' fun,An' laffs at all your jokes.
I got a ol' maid auntie, too,The worst you ever saw;Her eyes ist bore you through and  through,—She ain't a bit like ma.
She's ist as slim as slim can be,An' when you want to slideDown on ze balusters, w'y sheSays 'at she's harrified.
She ain't as nice as Uncle Ben,What says 'at little boysWon't never grow to be big menUnless they're fond of noise.
But muvver's nicer zan 'em all,She calls you, "precious lamb,"An' let's you roll your ten-pin ball,An' spreads your bread wiz jam.
An' when you're bad, she ist looks sad,You fink she's goin' to cry;An' when she don't you're awful glad,An' den you're good, Oh, my!
At night, she takes ze softest hand,An' lays it on your head,An' says "Be off to Sleepy-LandBy way o' trundle-bed."
So when you fink what muvver knowsAn' aunts an uncle tan't,It skeers a feller; ist supposeHis muvver 'd been a aunt.