James Riley - Rubáiyát of Doc Sifers

And, whilse we're talkin' fish , – I mind they formed a fishin'-crowd
(When folks could fish 'thout gittin' fined , and seinin' wuz allowed!)
O' leadin' citizens, you know, to go and seine "Old Blue" —
But hadn't no big seine, and so – w'y, what wuz they to do?..

And Doc he say he thought 'at he could knit a stitch er two —
"Bring the materials to me – 'at's all I'm astin' you!"
And down he sets – six weeks, i jing! and knits that seine plum done —
Made corks too, brails and ever'thing – good as a boughten one!

Doc's public sperit – when the sick 's not takin' all his time
And he's got some fer politics – is simple yit sublime: —
He'll talk his principles – and they air honest ; – but the sly
Friend strikes him first, election-day, he'd 'commodate, er die!

And yit, though Doc, as all men knows, is square straight up and down,
That vote o' his is – well, I s'pose – the cheapest one in town; —
A fact 'at's sad to verify, as could be done on oath —
I've voted Doc myse'f — And I was criminal fer both!

You kin corrupt the ballot-box – corrupt yourse'f , as well —
Corrupt some neighbers, – but old Doc's as oncorruptible
As Holy Writ. So putt a pin right there! – Let Sifers be,
I jucks! he wouldn't vote agin his own worst inimy!

When Cynthy Eubanks laid so low with fever, and Doc Glenn