'How did you rest, last night?'-- <br />I've heard my gran'pap say <br />Them words a thousand times--that's right-- <br />Jes them words thataway! <br />As punctchul-like as morning dast <br />To ever heave in sight <br />Gran'pap 'ud allus haf to ast-- <br />'How did you rest, last night?' <br /> <br />Us young-uns used to grin, <br />At breakfast, on the sly, <br />And mock the wobble of his chin <br />And eyebrows belt so high <br />And kind: _'How did you rest, last night?'_ <br />We'd mumble and let on <br />Our voices trimbled, and our sight <br />Was dim, and hearin' gone. <br /> <br />* * * * * <br /> <br />Bad as I used to be, <br />All I'm a-wantin' is <br />As puore and ca'm a sleep fer me <br />And sweet a sleep as his! <br />And so I pray, on Jedgment Day <br />To wake, and with its light <br />See _his_ face dawn, and hear him say-- <br />'How did you rest, last night?'<br /><br />James Whitcomb Riley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/how-did-you-rest-last-night/
