Every man \vho owns a dog should treat him in such a manner 

 as to make him love- his master as the " y aller dog" loves a nigger. 



44 A YALLER DOG'S LOVE FOR A NIGGER." 



BY MR. POLK MILLER 



There's a rude mound in yonder graveyard cold 



That knows no decoration day, 

 And he that is laid underneath it to mould 



Is only a " nigger," they say. 



He died an old vagrant ! Not a cent did he own ! 



And he left not a soul to be sad ; 

 They gave him his freedom, and he wandered alone, 



And an old " yaller " dog was all that he had. 



They dug him a grave, and laid him away, 



This poor old worn-out slave ; 

 Not a prayer for his rest did any one say, 



But his dog lay down on his grave. 



And there you see him day after day, 



At morning, at night, or at noon, 

 And the daintiest morsel can't tempt him away 



From the sad, rude grave of the coon. 



He lays there and mourns the whole long day, 



For nobody else does he care, 

 Neither menace nor threat can drive him away 



From the grave of the nigger laid there. 



There's a mighty fine monument standing right nigh, 

 But to me that rude mound seems bigger, 

 For there's a monument that money can't buy 

 The " yaller " dog's love for a nigger. 



245 



