He ’d Had No Show

by Sam Walter Foss English

  JOE Beall ’ud set upon a keg   Down to the groc’ry store, an’ throw One leg right over t’other leg   An’ swear he ’d never had no show.       “O, no,” said Joe,       “Hain’t hed no show,” Then shift his quid to t’other jaw, An’ chaw, an’ chaw, an’ chaw, an’ chaw. He said he got no start in life,   Didn’t get no money from his dad, The washin’ took in by his wife   Earned all the funds he ever had.       “O, no,” said Joe,       “Hain’t hed no show,” An’ then he ’d look up at the clock An’ talk, an’ talk, an’ talk, an’ talk. “I ’ve waited twenty year—let ’s see—   Yes, twenty-four, an’ never struck, Altho, I ’ve sot roun’ patiently,   The fust tarnation streak er luck.       O, no,” said Joe,       “Hain’t hed no show,” Then stuck like mucilage to the spot, An’ sot, an’ sot, an’ sot, an’ sot. “I ’ve come down regerlar every day   For twenty years to Piper’s store. I ’ve sot here in a patient way,   Say, hain’t I, Piper?” Piper swore.       “I tell ye, Joe,       Yer hain’t no show; Yer too dern patient”—ther hull raft Jest laffed, an’ laffed, an’ laffed, an’ laffed.

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