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 on     Like a false-face. Had it drawn     Over all her face. "Ain't it,"     So she said, "a perfect fit?"     She looked funny as a clown;     And I called her Dough Face; she     Laughed and said, "Let's saunter down     Where the people, too, can see.     Maybe one will recognize,     In these features, nose and eyes,     Some long-lost belovd child,     And for very joy go wild."     It was getting dusk; and there     At 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-So     Screamed 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."