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James Whitcomb Riley - "That Little Dog"
Work rating: Low

"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."
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