A Plea for the Day

^{(From N. Y. Independent)}

Oh, it’s good to be a-livin’  
   W’en Thanksgivin’s ’bout to come,   
An’ ol’ mammy’s in de kitchen   
   Jes’ a-mekin’ dishes hum!   
See dat tu’key in de cupboard,  
   An’ dem pies all in a row,   
An’ dem cakes wid all deir icin’––  
   Why dey looks lak dey was snow!

Uncle Eph’s done wash’d de winders,   
   An’ li’ l’ Topsy’s scrubb’d de flo’;  
Mammy’s sent me once fur cidah,   
   But she ’lowes she wants some mo’;  
And she ’lows she wants a ’possum,  
   An’ she’ll have one––I’ll be boun,––  
’Cause it won’t be no Thanksgivin’  
   Dout a ’possum’s somewhar roun’

You kin have yo’ merry Chris’mas,   
   An’ yo’ Fo’th Day uv July,   
An’ dat sad, sad day what teks us  
   Whar de Union so’jers lie;  
But I’s one dat hyeah to tell you:  
   Ef I had a right to speak,   
We’d jes’ celerbrate Thanksgivin’  
   ’Mos nigh evah othah week.