Classic Poem

Don't you know what two fingers means?
Lands! I guess you don't know beans.
Sneak through the alley 'ithout any noise
Down to the Round House 'n' take a dip.
That's what it meant to us two boys;
Or else you whistle, to give the tip,
(At least we use-to, me 'n' Jim):
" O Mother, may I go out to swim? "

I remember onc't how the Marshall came,
'N' said we'd ough' to be a-shame'
To swim right there on Hershey's raft.
Jim hid our clo'es when we seen him come,
'N' we swum to the boom, 'n' set 'n' laughed;
You bet he was mad, 'n' tore 'round some,
When both of us felluhs whistled at him:
" O Mother, may I go out to swim? "

Onc't we seen Fatty Loucks go in, —
He's a Slough-town felluh, 'n' mean as sin, —
'N' we made him chaw beef, — we tied his shirt; —
'N' he chased us necked clear up to the track;
Jim got his jacket 'n' pants all dirt,
'N' I lost my hat; but we das'n't go back;
So we dressed there, a-singun,' me 'n' Jim:
" O Mother, may I go out to swim? "

Nope, I don't go in very much no more.
The mills, they've spoilt the Round-House shore;
'N', anyway, Maw, she always cries
When I say I'm a-goin'; 'cause Jim was drown'd
On the Tow-head san'bar; 'n' Paw, he tries,
When I go in, to be somewheres 'round,
'N' that ain't as much fun, you bet, as Jim, —
" O Mother, may I go out to swim? "