Our Two Opinions

Us two wuz boys when we fell out,--     Nigh to the age uv my youngest now;     Don't rec'lect what't wuz about,     Some small deeff'rence, I'll allow.     Lived next neighbors twenty years,     A-hatin' each other, me 'nd Jim,--     He havin' his opinyin uv me,     'Nd I havin' my opinyin uv him.     Grew up together 'nd would n't speak,     Courted sisters, 'nd marr'd 'em, too;     Tended same meetin'-house oncet a week,     A-hatin' each other through 'nd through!     But when Abe Linkern asked the West     F'r soldiers, we answered,--me 'nd Jim,--     He havin' his opinyin uv me,     'Nd I havin' my opinyin uv him.     But down in Tennessee one night     Ther' wuz sound uv firin' fur away,     'Nd the sergeant allowed ther' 'd be a fight     With the Johnnie Rebs some time nex' day;     'Nd as I wuz thinkin' uv Lizzie 'nd home     Jim stood afore me, long 'nd slim,--     He havin' his opinyin uv me,     'Nd I havin' my opinyin uv him.     Seemed like we knew there wuz goin' to be     Serious trouble f'r me 'nd him;     Us two shuck hands, did Jim 'nd me,     But never a word from me or Jim!     He went his way 'nd I went mine,     'Nd into the battle's roar went we,--     I havin' my opinyin uv Jim,     'Nd he havin' his opinyin uv me.     Jim never come back from the war again,     But I ha' n't forgot that last, last night     When, waitin' f'r orders, us two men     Made up 'nd shuck hands, afore the fight.     'Nd, after it all, it's soothin' to know     That here I be 'nd yonder's Jim,--     He havin' his opinyin uv me,     'Nd I havin' my opinyin uv him.