Our Two Opinions

Us two wuz boys when we fell out,—   Nigh to the age uv my youngest now; Don’t rec’lect what ’t wuz about,   Some small deeff’rence, I ’ll allow. Lived next neighbors twenty years,   A-hatin’ each other, me ’nd Jim,— He havin’ his opinyin uv me,   ’Nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him. Grew up together ’nd would n’t speak,   Courted sisters, ’nd marr’d ’em, too; ’Tended same meetin’-house oncet a week,   A-hatin’ each other through ’nd through! But when Abe Linkern asked the West   F’r soldiers, we answered,—me ’nd Jim,— He havin’ his opinyin uv me,   ’Nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him. But down in Tennessee one night   Ther’ wuz sound uv firin’ fur away, ’Nd the sergeant allowed ther’ ’d be a fight   With the Johnnie Rebs some time nex’ day; ’Nd as I wuz thinkin’ uv Lizzie ’nd home   Jim stood afore me, long ’nd slim,— He havin’ his opinyin uv me,   ’Nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him. Seemed like we knew there wuz goin’ to be   Serious trouble f’r me ’nd him; Us two shuck hands, did Jim ’nd me,   But never a word from me or Jim! He went his way ’nd I went mine,   ’Nd into the battle’s roar went we,— I havin’ my opinyin uv Jim,   ’Nd he havin’ his opinyin uv me. Jim never come back from the war again,   But I hain’t forgot that last, last night When, waitin’ f’r orders, us two men   Made up ’nd shuck hands, afore the fight. ’Nd, after it all, it ’ssoothin’ to know   That here I be ’nd yonder ’s Jim,— He havin’ his opinyin uv me,   ’Nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him.