Giant and the star : little annals in rhyme / by Madison Cawein [electronic text]

DOUGH FACE

MADE a face of biscuit-dough,Which our black cook gave me once;And this girl named So-and-So Said 't was funnier than a dunce.And she took it; put it onLike a false-face. Had it drawnOver all her face. "Ain't it,"So she said, "a perfect fit?"

She looked funny as a clown;And I called her Dough Face; sheLaughed and said, "Let's saunter downWhere the people, too, can see.Maybe one will recognize,In these features, nose and eyes, Some long-lost belovéd child, And for very joy go wild."

It was getting dusk; and thereAt the corner stood some girls; When they saw us, I declare, They just hollered, tossed their curls,

Ran away; and Dough Face fast After them. And running past Came some boys who, when they saw, Shouted at her, "Mardi Graw!"

And one said, "That looks to me Like that Girlie Good Enough. Just as dough-faced, is n't she? Get some dirt. Let's treat her rough." — And they got soft mud to throw. Then she cried, "I'm So-and-So"; And the boys all shouted; for You must know she's popular.

Then we had great times, we did:First one boy he tried it on, Then another; and he hid In a house where folks were gone; Stood there at a window where People passing in the square Saw him; and a nigger-man, Scared to death, just yelled and ran.

Then another fellow clomb A back-fence, and put the face Over his. My! he looked rum. Like a scarecrow in a place

Where he never ought to be. And he rose up suddenly By the window with a yell, And the cook she shrieked and fell.

But the house-man, who was there In the kitchen, was n't scared; He just jumped up from his chair, Banged the door wide; out he flared, Caught that boy and cried "police!" Tore the dough-mask, piece by piece,From his face: then So-and-SoScreamed at him, "You let him go!"

On the hydrant was a hose;Quick she took it; turned it on;Streamed it in his mouth and nose: — In a moment we were gone, Left him spluttering at our backs Blind with water. We made tracks Home. And So-and-So just crowed, — "End of Dough Face ep-i-sode."