AT Noey's house -- when they arrived with him -- How snug seemed everything, and neat and trim: The little picket-fence, and little gate -- Its little pulley, and its little weight, -- All glib as clockwork, as it clicked behind Them, on the little red-brick pathway, lined With little paint-keg vases and teapots Of wee moss-blossoms and forget-me-nots: And in the windows, either side the door, Were ranged as many little boxes more Of like old-fashioned larkspurs, pinks and moss And fern and phlox; while up and down across Them rioted the morning-glory vines On taut-set cotton strings, whose snowy lines Whipped in and out and under the bright green Like basting-threads; and, here and there between, A showy, shiny hollyhock would flare Its pink among the white and purple there. -- And still behind the vines, the children saw A strange, bleached, wistful face that seemed to draw A vague, indefinite sympathy. A face It was of some newcomer to the place. -- In explanation, Noey, briefly, said That it was "Jason," as he turned and led The little fellows round the house to show Them his menagerie of pets. And so For quite a time the face of the strange guest Was partially forgotten, as they pressed About the squirrel-cage and rousted both The lazy inmates out, though wholly loath To whirl the wheel for them. -- And then with awe They walked round Noey's big pet owl, and saw Him film his great, clear, liquid eyes and stare And turn and turn and turn his head round there The same way they kept circling -- as though he Could turn it one way thus eternally. Behind the kitchen, then, with special pride Noey stirred up a terrapin inside The rain-barrel where he lived, with three or four Little mud-turtles of a size not more In neat circumference than the tiny toy Dumb-watches worn by every little boy. Then, back of the old shop, beneath the tree Of "rusty-coats," as Noey called them, he Next took the boys, to show his favorite new Pet coon -- pulled rather coyly into view Up through a square hole in the bottom of An old inverted tub he bent above, Yanking a little chain, with "Hey! you, sir! Here's @3comp'ny@1 come to see you, Bolivur!" Explanatory, he went on to say, "I named him @3Bolivur@1 jes' thisaway, -- He looks so @3round@1 and @3ovalish@1 and @3fat@1, 'Peared-like no other name 'ud fit but that." Here Noey's father called and sent him on Some errand. "Wait," he said -- "I won't be gone A half a' hour. -- Take Bud, and go on in Where Jason is, tel I git back ag'in." Whoever @3Jason@1 was, they found him there Still at the front-room window. -- By his chair Leaned a new pair of crutches; and from one Knee down, a leg was bandaged. -- "Jason done That-air with one o' these-'ere tools @3we@1 call A @3'shin-hoe'@1 -- but a @3foot-adze@1 mostly all @3Hardware@1-store-keepers calls 'em." -- (@3Noey@1 made This explanation later.) Jason paid But little notice to the boys as they Came in the room: -- An idle volume lay Upon his lap -- the only book in sight -- And Johnty read the title, -- "Light, More Light, There's Danger in the Dark," -- though @3first@1 and best -- In fact, the @3whole@1 of Jason's interest Seemed centered on a little @3dog@1 -- one pet Of Noey's all uncelebrated yet -- Though @3Jason@1, certainly, avowed his worth, And niched him over all the pets on earth -- As the observant Johnty would relate The @3Jason@1-episode, and imitate The all-enthusiastic speech and air Of Noey's kinsman and his tribute there: -- "That little dog 'ud scratch at that door And go on a-whinin' two hours before He'd ever let up! @3There!@1 -- Jane: Let him in. -- (Hah, there, you little rat!) Look at him grin! Come down off o' that! -- W'y, look at him! (@3Drat You! you-rascal-you!@1) -- bring me that hat! Look @3out!@1 -- He'll snap @3you! -- He@1 wouldn't let @3You@1 take it away from him, now you kin bet! That little rascal's jist natchurly mean. -- I tell you, I @3never@1 (@3Git out!!@1), never seen A @3spunkier@1 little rip! (@3Scratch to git in@1, And @3now@1 yer a-scratchin' to git @3out@1 ag'in! Jane: Let him out.) Now, watch him from here Out through the winder! -- You notice one ear Kind o' @3in@1side-@3out@1, like he holds it? -- Well, @3He's@1 got a @3tick@1 in it -- @3I@1 kin tell! Yes, and he's cunnin' -- Jist watch him a-runnin', @3Sidelin'@1 -- see! -- like he ain't @3'plum'd true'@1 And legs don't 'track' as they'd ort to do! -- Ploughin' his nose through the weeds -- i jing! Ain't he jist cuter'n anything! "W'y, that little dog's got @3grown@1-people's sense; -- See how he gits out under the fence? -- And watch him a-whettin' his hind legs 'fore His dead square run of a mile'd er more -- 'Cause @3Noey's@1 a-comin', and Trip allus knows When @3Noey's@1 a-comin' -- and off he goes! -- Putts out to meet him and -- @3There they come now!@1 Well-sir! it's raially singalar how That dog kin @3tell@1, -- But he knows as well When Noey's a-comin' home! -- Reckon his @3smell@1 'Ud carry two mile'd? -- You needn't to @3smile@1 -- He runs to meet @3him@1, ever'-once-'n-a-while, Two mile'd and over -- when he's slipped away And left him at home here, as he's done to-day -- 'Thout ever knowin' where Noey wuz goin' -- But that little dog allus hits the right way! Hear him a-whinin' and scratchin' ag'in? -- (@3Little tormentin' fice!@1) Jane: Let him in. " -- You say he ain't @3there?@1 -- Well now, I declare! -- Lem@3me@1 limp out and look! . . . I wunder where -- @3Heuh@1, Trip! -- @3Heuh@1, Trip! -- @3Heuh@1, Trip! . . . @3There@1 -- @3There@1 he is! -- Little sneak! -- What-a'-you-'bout? -- @3There@1 he is -- quiled up as meek as a mouse, His tail turnt up like a tea-kittle spout, A-sunnin' hiss'f at the side o' the house! @3Next@1 time you scratch, sir, you'll half to git in, My fine little feller, the best way you kin! -- Noey @3he@1 learns him sich capers! -- And they -- @3Both@1 of 'em's ornrier every day! -- @3Both@1 tantalizin' and meaner'n sin -- Allus a -- (@3Listen there!@1) -- Jane: Let him in. " -- Oh! yer so @3innocent!@1 hangin' yer head! -- (Drat ye! you'd @3better@1 git under the bed!) . . . Listen at that! -- He's tackled the cat! -- Hah, there! you little rip! come out o' that! -- Git yer blame' little eyes scratched out 'Fore you know what yer talkin' about! -- @3Here!@1 come away from there! -- (Let him alone -- He'll snap @3you@1, I tell ye, as quick as a bone!) @3Hi@1, Trip! -- @3Hey@1, here! -- What-a'-you-'bout! -- @3Oo! ouch!@1 'Ll, I'll be blamed! -- @3Blast ye!@1 GIT OUT! . . . Oh, it ain't nothin' -- jist @3scratched@1 me, you see. -- Hadn't no idy he'd try to bite @3me!@1 @3Plague take him!@1 -- Bet he'll not try @3that@1 ag'in! -- Hear him yelp. -- (@3Pore feller!@1) Jane: Let him in." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A DOUBLE STANDARD by FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS HARPER THE SWAMP ANGEL by HERMAN MELVILLE SILENCE SINGS by THOMAS STURGE MOORE I HEAR AMERICA SINGING by WALT WHITMAN SONGS OF THE SEA CHILDREN: 74 by BLISS CARMAN THOR'S FISHING by RHYS CARPENTER |