When They Love You So

One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

An’ ’en my Ma, she rubs my head ’Ist burnin’ hot, an’ ’en her chin ’Ist shivers an’ she says: “Poor Ned! His little hands so white an’ thin!” An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me. An’ my big sister’s goin’ t’ buy A really pony ’ist as quick As ever doctor says ’at I Am well again from bein’ sick.

An’ even our old hired man Comes in an’ stays a while with me, Whenever doctor says he can, ’Ist kind an’ gentle as can be, ’Cuz once he had a boy, an’ ’en He had th’ fever an’ ’at’s why He’s awful kind to me an’ when He sees me, why he starts t’ cry.

An’ even teacher comes to see Me on her way from school, an’ ’en She says it won’t be hard for me When I come back to school again. ’Cuz she won’t make my lessons long, Or keep me after school; an’ she ’Ist wants me to get well an’ strong An’ ’en she stoops an’ kisses me.

An’ ’at’s th’ way you really know How much they love you, when your head ’Ist burnin’ up an’ you can’t go Nowheres except to stay in bed. An’ even if you’re awful bad An’ hot with fever, why, you know, It makes you feel ’ist sweet an’ glad Becuz they all ’ist love you so.