Writin' Back To The Home-Folks

My dear old friends - It jes beats all,      The way you write a letter     So's ever' last line beats the first,      And ever' next-un's better! -     W'y, ever' fool-thing you putt down      You make so interestin',     A feller, readin' of 'em all,      Can't tell which is the best-un.     It's all so comfortin' and good,      'Pears-like I almost hear ye     And git more sociabler, you know,      And hitch my cheer up near ye     And jes smile on ye like the sun      Acrosst the whole per-rairies     In Aprile when the thaw's begun      And country couples marries.     It's all so good-old-fashioned like      To talk jes like we're thinkin',     Without no hidin' back o' fans      And giggle-un and winkin',     Ner sizin' how each-other's dressed -      Like some is allus doin', -     "Is Marthy Ellen's basque ben turned      Er shore-enough a new-un!" -     Er "ef Steve's city-friend haint jes      'A leetle kindo'-sorto'" -     Er "wears them-air blame eye-glasses      Jes 'cause he hadn't ort to?"     And so straight on, dad-libitum,      Tel all of us feels, someway,     Jes like our "comp'ny" wuz the best      When we git up to come 'way!     That's why I like old friends like you, -      Jes 'cause you're so abidin'. -     Ef I was built to live "fer keeps,"      My principul residin'     Would be amongst the folks 'at kep'      Me allus thinkin' of 'em,     And sorto' eechin' all the time      To tell 'em how I love 'em. -     Sich folks, you know, I jes love so      I wouldn't live without 'em,     Er couldn't even drap asleep      But what I dreamp' about 'em, -     And ef we minded God, I guess      We'd all love one-another     Jes like one fam'bly, - me and Pap      And Madaline and Mother.