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C J Dennis - Cherry
Work rating: Low

"Some I got with amber stems an` some with silver bands,
Bent ones an` straight ones an` all sorts o` brands.
A lot of pipes, sez you, for one old pensioner to own;
But, folks, as soon as Christmas comes, they won`t leave me alone.
`We`ll give old Pete a pipe,` they sez, forgetful in their way,
It`s wot they gives me every year," said old Pete Parraday.
"Bent ones an` straight ones, some must ha` cost real dear --
More than I`d smoke if I should live for two hundred year.

"`We`ll give ole Pete a pipe,` they sez.  (People is awful good
Here in the bush!  `He sucks,` they sez, `at that ole cherrywood
All bound with bits of wire an` stuff, an` cracked an` caked up too!`
But, lordy, none of `em don`t know that pipe the way I do.
I`ve had him over seven year, an` I just likes him fine;
For, cracked an` all, an` caked an` all, he`s a good ole mate o` mine.
`Cherry,` I calls him, just for short.  I own he smells no end,
But, if I was to lose him now, I`d feel I`d lost a friend.

"Yes, he knows me an` I knows him - a cranky coot some ways:
Got to be youmered, like a man; he has his sulky days.
Goes stubborn an` won`t dror at all if I packs him too tight;
An`, if I cuts the baccy coarse, the cow won`t stay alight!
But on long winter evenin`s, there by the blazin` log,
The three of us gits yarnin` -- him an` me an` my ole dog --
But, lordy, if I told you all about ole Cherry here,
You`d say me brain was softnin`; you`d say; `Ole Pete`s gone queer.`

"He lost his self last winter down there along the creek,
An` a pretty dance he led me with his crazy hide an` seek.
That`s how I catched pnoomonier.  The doctor sez, `Yer mad!
Risk death for that old stikin` pipe!`  But I sez, `Listen, lad,
Ole Cherry does me far more good than all your doctor`s stuff!`
But he jist stands an` grins at me; he knowed it sure enough.
`Cherry,` I sez, `has been my mate --`.  But he sez, `Hold yer row!
You tough ole hunk o` hide!` he sez.  `Sit up an` drink this now.`

"Some I got with amber stems an` some with silver bands,
Bent ones an` straight ones -- all sorts o` brands.
If you came into my bush hut you`d see a brave array --
Pipes of every shape an` cut," said old Pete Parraday.
"But don`t you say you seen `em, `cos folks is awful good.
`We`ll give ole Pete a pipe,` they sez.  `Pooh!  That ole cherrywood!`
Yes; folks is kind at Christmas time; but, now an` then, I grants,
I wish they`d stand a man a short, or p`raps a pair o` pants."
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