Page:Poems Piatt.djvu/148

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
134
PLAYING BEGGARS.
"Well, we 'll be rich and wear old naughty clothes."
"But they're not rich. If they were rich they'd buy
All the fine horses at the fairs and shows
To give to General Grant. I'll tell you why:
Once when the rebels wanted to kill all
The men in this worldhe let Richmond fall!

"That broke them up! I like the rebels, though,
Because they have the curliest kind of hair.
One time, so many years and years ago,
I saw one over in Kentucky there.
It showed me such a shabby sword, and said
It wanted to cut off—Somebody's head!

"But—do play beggar. You be one; and, mind,
Shut up one eye, and get all over dust,
And say this: +>'Lady, be so very kind
As to give me some water. Well, I must
Rest on your step, I think, ma'am, for a while——
I've walked full twenty if I've walked one mile.

"'Lady, this is your little girl, I know:
She is a beautiful child—and just like you;