Last Words of the Dying Recruit
Where’s you’ tender han’, mumma,
Dat would fingle up me jaw
When de fever burned so deep,
An’ A couldn’ get no sleep?
Where’s de voice me love’ to hear
Whisp’rin’ sweetest words o’ cheer?—
Voice dat taught me A B C
As me leaned ’pon mumma’s knee.
Look de ’panish-needle grass
Growin’ by de gully pass!
Is dat fe me ducky hen
Cacklin’ roun’-a rabbit pen?
Hea’ de John-t’whits in-a glee
Singin’ in de mammee tree!
Listen, comin’ up de dale
Chirpin’s o’ de nightingale!
All de chune dem die away:—
Do you see de shinin’ ray
On da’ tiny buttercup?
’Tis de sun a-comin’ up.
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