Limitations

Ef you's only got de powah fe' to blow a little whistle,     Keep ermong de people wid de whistles.     Ef you don't, you'll fin' out sho'tly dat you's th'owed yo' fines' feelin'     In a place dat's all a bed o' thistles.     'Tain't no use a-goin' now, ez sho's you bo'n,     A-squeakin' of yo' whistle 'g'inst a gread big ho'n.     Ef you ain't got but a teenchy bit o' victuals on de table,     Whut' de use a-claimin' hit's a feas'?     Fe' de folks is mighty 'spicious, an' dey's ap' to come apeerin',     Lookin' fe' de scraps you lef' at leas'.     Wen de meal's a-hidin' f'om de meal-bin's top,     You needn't talk to hide it; ef you sta'ts, des stop.     Ef yo' min' kin only carry half a pint o' common idees,     Don' go roun' a-sayin' hit's a bar'l;     'Ca'se de people gwine to test you, an' dey'll fin' out you's a-lyin',     Den dey'll twis' yo' sayin's in a snarl.     Wuss t'ing in de country dat I evah hyahed--     A crow dot sat a-squawkin', "I's a mockin'-bird."