Classic Poem

I' GOT to face Mother to-day, fer a fact! —
I' got to face Mother to-day!
And jes' how I'll dare to, an' how she will act,
Is more than a mortal can say!
But I' got to face her — I' got to! And so
Here's a' old father clean at the end of his row!

And Pink and Wade's gone to the farm fer her now —
And I'm keepin' house fer 'em here —
Their purty, new house — and all paid fer! — But how
Am I goin' to meet her, and clear
Up my actchully he'ppin' 'em both to elope? —
('Cause Mother wuz set — and wuz no other hope!)

I don' think it's Wade she's so biased ag'in',
But his bizness , — a railroadin' man
'At runs a switch-engine, day out and day in,
And's got to make hay while he can, —
It's a dangersome job, I'll admit, — but see what
A fine-furnished home 'at he's already got!

And Pink — W'y, the girl wuz just pinin' away, —
So what could her old father do,
When he found her, hid-like, in a loose load of hay,
But jes' to drive on clean into
The aidge of the city, where — singular thing! —
Wade switched us away to the Squire, i jing!

Now — a-leavin' me here — they're driv off, with a cheer,
On their weddin'-trip — which is to drive
Straight home and tell Mother, and tol her back here
And surrender me, dead er alive!
So I'm waitin' here — not so blame' overly gay
As I wuz , — 'cause I' got to face Mother to-day!