Elmer Brown

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Awf'lest boy in this-here town
  Er anywheres is Elmer Brown!
  He'll mock you--yes, an' strangers, too,
  An' make a face an' yell at you,--
  "_Here's_ the way _you_ look!"


  Yes, an' wunst in School one day,
  An' Teacher's lookin' wite that way,
  He helt his slate, an' hide his head,
  An' maked a face at _her_, an' said,--
  "_Here's_ the way _you_ look!"


  An' sir! when Rosie Wheeler smile
  One morning at him 'crosst the aisle,
  He twist his face all up, an' black
  His nose wiv ink, an' whisper back,--
  "_Here's_ the way _you_ look!"


  Wunst when his Aunt's all dressed to call,
  An' kiss him good-bye in the hall,
  An' latch the gate an' start away,
  He holler out to her an' say,--
  "_Here's_ the way _you_ look!"


  An' when his Pa he read out loud
  The speech he maked, an' feel so proud
  It's in the paper--Elmer's Ma
  She ketched him--wite behind his Pa,--
  "_Here's_ the way _you_ look!"


  Nen when his Ma she slip an' take
  Him in the other room an' shake
  Him good! w'y, he don't care--no-_sir_!--
  He ist look up an' laugh at her,--
  "_Here's_ the way _you_ look!"

© James Whitcomb Riley