  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 neighbours 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 wouldn’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. “US TWO SHUCK HANDS.” Seemed like we knew ther 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! ’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. That here I be ’nd yonder’s Jim,— He havin’ his opinyin uv me, ’nd I havin’ my opinyin uv him. Eugene Field. |
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