[
  {
    "title": "Encouragement",
    "author": "Paul Laurence Dunbar",
    "lines": [
      "WHO dat knockin' at de do'?",
      "Why, Ike Johnson, -- yes, fu' sho!",
      "Come in, Ike. I's mighty glad",
      "You come down. I t'ought you's",
      "mad",
      "At me 'bout de othah night,",
      "An' was stayin' 'way fu' spite.",
      "Say, now, was you mad fu' true",
      "W'en I kin' o' laughed at you?",
      "Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.",
      "",
      "'T ain't no use a-lookin' sad,",
      "An' a-mekin' out you's mad;",
      "Ef you's gwine to be so glum,",
      "Wondah why you evah come.",
      "I don't lak nobody 'roun'",
      "Dat jes' shet dey mouf an' frown,--",
      "Oh, now, man, don't act a dunce!",
      "Cain't you talk? I tol' you once,",
      "Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.",
      "",
      "Wha'd you come hyeah fu' to-night?",
      "Body'd t'ink yo' haid ain't right.",
      "I's done all dat I kin do,--",
      "Dressed perticler, jes' fu' you;",
      "Reckon I'd 'a' bettah wo'",
      "My ol' ragged calico.",
      "Aftah all de pains I's took,",
      "Cain't you tell me how I look?",
      "Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.",
      "",
      "Bless my soul! I 'mos' fu'got",
      "Tellin' you 'bout Tildy Scott.",
      "Don't you know, come Thu'sday",
      "night,",
      "She gwine ma'y Lucius White?",
      "Miss Lize say I allus wuh",
      "Heap sight laklier 'n huh;",
      "An' she'll git me somep'n new,",
      "Ef I wants to ma'y too.",
      "Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.",
      "",
      "I could ma'y in a week,",
      "Ef de man I wants 'ud speak.",
      "Tildy's presents'll be fine,",
      "But dey would n't ekal mine.",
      "Him whut gits me fu' a wife",
      "'Ll be proud, you bet yo' life.",
      "I's had offers; some ain't quit;",
      "But I has n't ma'ied yit!",
      "Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f.",
      "",
      "Ike, I loves you,--yes, I does;",
      "You's my choice, and allus was.",
      "Laffin' at you ain't no harm.--",
      "Go 'way, dahky, whaih's yo' arm?",
      "Hug me closer--dah, dat's right!",
      "Was n't you a awful sight,",
      "Havin' me to baig you so?",
      "Now ax whut you want to know,--",
      "Speak up, Ike, an' 'spress yo'se'f!"
    ],
    "linecount": "56"
  }
]