Ef you's only got de powah fe’ to blow a little whistle,
Keep ermong de people wid de whistles.
Ef you do n'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.
‘ Tai n'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 ai n'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 need n'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.”