At Night

Whut time 'd dat clock strike?     Nine? No--eight;     I didn't think hit was so late.     Aer chew! I must 'a' got a cough,     I raally b'lieve I did doze off--     Hit's mighty soothin' to de tiah,     A-dozin' dis way by de fiah;     Oo oom--hit feels so good to stretch     I sutny is one weary wretch!     Look hyeah, dat boy done gone to sleep!     He des ain't wo'th his boa'd an' keep;     I des don't b'lieve he'd bat his eyes     If Gab'el called him fo'm de skies!     But sleepin's good dey ain't no doubt--     Dis pipe o' mine is done gone out.     Don't bu'n a minute, bless my soul,     Des please to han' me dat ah coal.     You 'Lias git up now, my son,     Seems lak my nap is des begun;     You sutny mus' ma'k down de day     Wen I treats comp'ny dis away!     W'y, Brother Jones, dat drowse come on,     An' laws! I dremp dat you was gone!     You 'Lias, whaih yo' mannahs, suh,     To hyeah me call an' nevah stuh!     To-morrer mo'nin' w'en I call     Dat boy'll be sleepin' to beat all,     Don't mek no diffunce how I roah,     He'll des lay up an' sno' and sno'.     Now boy, you done hyeahed whut I said,     You bettah tek yo'se'f yo baid,     Case ef you gits me good an' wrong     I'll mek dat sno' a diffunt song.     Dis wood fiah is invitin' dho',     Hit seems to wa'm de ve'y flo'--     An' nuffin' ain't a whit ez sweet,     Ez settin' toastin' of yo' feet.     Hit mek you drowsy, too, but La!     Hyeah, 'Lias, don't you hyeah yo' ma?     Ef I gits sta'ted f'om dis cheah     I' lay, you scamp, I'll mek you heah!     To-morrer mo'nin' I kin bawl     Twell all de neighbohs hyeah me call;     An' you'll be snoozin' des ez deep     Ez if de day was made fu' sleep;     Hit's funny when you got a cough     Somehow yo' voice seems too fu' off--     Can't wake dat boy fu' all I say,     I reckon he'll sleep daih twell day!