BILLIE POTTS
In the land between the rivers,
Or known what Billie was out to do,
For when Billie said, "Mister, I've brung hit to you,"
And reached hi-; hand for it down in his britches,
The stranger just reached his own hand, too.
"Boom!" Billie's gun said, and the derringer, "Bang!"
"Oh, I'm shot!" Billie howled and grabbed his shoulder.
"Not bad," said the stranger, "for you're born to hang,
But I'll save some rope 'fore you're a minute older
If
you don't high-tail to your honest Pap
In the section between the rivers."
Oh, Billie didn't tarry and Billie didn't linger,
For Billie didn't trust the stranger's finger
And didn't admire the stranger's face;
And didn't like the climate of the place,
So
he turned and high-tailed up the trace,
With blood on his shirt and snot in
his
nose
And pee in his pants for he'd wet his clothes,
And the stranger just sits and admires how he goes,
61
And says, "Why, that boy would do right well back on the Bardstown
track!"
"You fool!" said his Pap, but his Mammy cried
To see the place where the gore-blood dried
Round the little hole in her darling's hide.
She wiped his nose and patted his head,
But Pappy barred the door and Pappy said,
"That bastard has maybe got some friends
In the section between the rivers,
And you can't say how sich bizness ends
And a man ain't sure he kin trust his neighbors,
Fer thar's mortal spite fer him sweats and labors."
He didn't ask Little how he felt,
But said, "Two hundr,ed in gold's in my money belt,
And take the roan and the brand-new saddle
And stop yore blubberen and skeedaddle,
And the next timt you try and pull a trick
Fer GQd's sake don't talk but do hit quick."
