In The Morning

'Lias! 'Lias! Bless de Lawd!     Don' you know de day's erbroad?     Ef you don' git up, you scamp,     Dey 'll be trouble in dis camp.     T'ink I gwine to let you sleep     W'ile I meks yo' boa'd an' keep?     Dat's a putty howdy-do--     Don' you hyeah me, 'Lias--you?     Bet ef I come crost dis flo'     You won' fin' no time to sno'.     Daylight all a-shinin' in     Wile you sleep--w'y hit's a sin!     Ain't de can'le-light enough     To bu'n out widout a snuff,     But you go de mo'nin' thoo     Bu'nin' up de daylight too?     'Lias, don' you hyeah me call?     No use tu'nin' to'ds de wall;     I kin hyeah dat mattuss squeak;     Don' you hyeah me w'en I speak?     Dis hyeah clock done struck off six--     Ca'line, bring me dem ah sticks!     Oh, you down, suh; huh, you down--     Look hyeah, don' you daih to frown.     Ma'ch yo'se'f an' wash yo' face,     Don' you splattah all de place;     I got somep'n else to do,     'Sides jes' cleanin' aftah you.     Tek dat comb ah' fix yo' haid--     Looks jes' lak a feddah baid.     Look hyeah, boy, I let you see     You sha' n't roll yo' eyes at me.     Come hyeah; bring me dat ah strap!     Boy, I'll whup you 'twell you drap;     You done felt yo'se'f too strong,     An' you sholy got me wrong.     Set down at dat table thaih;     Jes' you whimpah ef you daih!     Evah mo'nin' on dis place,     Seem lak I mus' lose my grace.     Fol' yo' han's an' bow yo' haid--     Wait ontwell de blessin' 's said;     "Lawd, have mussy on ouah souls--"     (Don' you daih to tech dem rolls--)     "Bless de food we gwine to eat--"     (You set still-I see yo' feet;     You jes' try dat trick agin!)     "Gin us peace an' joy. Amen!"