ADDRESSES OF MAJOR LACEY 353 



Of course what's a-keepin' me away from the top 

 Is not never having no blaeksmithing shop. 



She said 'at Ben Franklin was awfully poor, 



But full of ambition and brains; 

 An' studied philosophy all his hull life — 



An' see what he got for his pains! 

 He brought electricity out of the sky, 



With a kite an' a bottle an' key, 

 An' we're owin' him more'n anyone else, 



For all the bright lights 'at we see. 

 Jane Jones she honestly said it was so ! 

 Mebbe he did — 

 I dunno! 



0' course what's allers been hinderin' me 

 Is not havin ' any kite, lightning, or key. 



Jane Jones said Abe Lincoln had no books at all, 



An ' used to split rails when a boy ; 

 An' General Grant was a tanner by trade, 



An' lived 'way out in Ill'nois. 

 So when the great war in the South broke out 



He stood on the side o' right, 

 An ' when Lincoln called him to take charge o ' things, 



He won nearly every blamed fight. 

 Jane Jones she honestly said it was so ! 

 Mebbe he did — 

 / dunno! 



Still I ain 't to blame, not by a big sight, 

 For I ain't never had any battle to fight. 



She said 'at Columbus was out at the knees, 



When he first thought up his big scheme, 

 An' told all the Spaniards 'nd Italians, too, 



An' all of 'em said 'twas a dream. 

 But Queen Isabella jest listened to him, 



An' pawned all her jewels o' worth, 

 An ' bought him the Santa Maria 'nd said : 



' ' Go hunt up the rest o ' the earth ! ' ' 



