That Little Dog

"That little dog 'ud scratch at that door And go on a-whinin' two hours before He'd ever let up! _There!_--Jane: Let him in.-- (Hah, there, you little rat!) Look at him grin! Come down off o' that!-- W'y, look at him! (_Drat You! you-rascal-you!_)--bring me that hat! Look _out!_--He'll snap _you!_--_He_ wouldn't let _You_ take it away from him, now you kin bet! That little rascal's jist natchurly mean.-- I tell you, I _never_ (_Git out!! _) never seen A _spunkier_ little rip! (_Scratch to git in_, And _now_ yer a-scratchin' to git _out_ agin! Jane: Let him out!) Now, watch him from here Out through the winder!--You notice one ear Kindo' _in_ side-_out_, like he holds it?--Well, _He's_ got a _tick_ in it--_I_ kin tell! Yes, and he's cunnin'-- Jist watch him a-runnin', _Sidelin'_--see!--like he ain't '_plum'd true_' And legs don't 'track' as they'd ort to do:-- Plowin' his nose through the weeds--I jing! Ain't he jist cuter'n anything!

"W'y, that little dog's got _grown_-people's sense!-- See how he gits out under the fence?-- And watch him a-whettin' his hind-legs 'fore His dead square run of a miled er more-- 'Cause _Noey_'s a-comin', and Trip allus knows When _Noey_'s a-comin'--and off he goes!-- Putts out to meet him and--_There they come now!_ Well-sir! it's raially singalar how That dog kin _tell_,-- But he knows as well When Noey's a-comin' home!--Reckon his _smell_ 'Ud carry two miled?--You needn't to _smile_-- He runs to meet _him_, ever'-once-n-a-while, Two miled and over--when he's slipped away And left him at home here, as he's done to-day-- 'Thout ever knowin' where Noey wuz goin'-- But that little dog allus hits the right way! Hear him a-whinin' and scratchin' agin?-- (_Little tormentin' fice!_) Jane: Let him in.

"--You say he ain't _there?_-- Well now, I declare!-- Lem _me_ limp out and look! ... I wunder where-- _Heuh_, Trip!--_Heuh_, Trip!--_Heuh_, Trip!... _There_-- _There_ he is!--Little sneak!--What-a'-you-'bout?-- _There_ he is--quiled up as meek as a mouse, His tail turnt up like a teakittle-spout, A-sunnin' hisse'f at the side o' the house! _Next_ time you scratch, sir, you'll haf to git in, My fine little feller, the best way you kin! --Noey _he_ learns him sich capers!--And they-- _Both_ of 'em's ornrier every day!-- _Both_ tantalizin' and meaner'n sin-- Allus a--(_Listen there!_)--Jane: Let him in.

"--O! yer so _innocent!_ hangin' yer head!-- (Drat ye! you'd _better_ git under the bed!) --Listen at that!-- He's tackled the cat!-- Hah, there! you little rip! come out o' that!-- Git yer blame little eyes scratched out 'Fore you know what yer talkin' about!-- _Here!_ come away from there!--(Let him alone-- He'll snap _you_, I tell ye, as quick as a bone!) _Hi_, Trip!--_Hey_, here!--What-a'-you-'bout!-- _Oo! ouch!_ 'Ll I'll be blamed!--_Blast ye!_ GIT OUT! ... O, it ain't nothin'--jist _scratched_ me, you see.-- Hadn't no idy he'd try to bite _me_! _Plague take him!_--Bet he'll not try _that_ agin!-- Hear him yelp.--(_Pore feller!_) Jane: Let him in."