Riley Farm-Rhymes

OLD MAN'S NURSERY RHYME

     I

     In the jolly winters
       Of the long-ago,
     It was not so cold as now—
       O! No! No!
     Then, as I remember,
       Snowballs to eat
     Were as good as apples now.
       And every bit as sweet!

     II

     In the jolly winters
       Of the dead-and-gone,
     Bub was warm as summer,
       With his red mitts on,—
     Just in his little waist-
       And-pants all together,
     Who ever hear him growl
       About cold weather?

     III

     In the jolly winters
       Of the long-ago—
     Was it HALF so cold as now?
       O! No! No!
     Who caught his death o' cold,
       Making prints of men
     Flat-backed in snow that now's
       Twice as cold again?

     IV

     In the jolly winters
       Of the dead-and-gone,
     Startin' out rabbit-huntin'—
       Early as the dawn,—
     Who ever froze his fingers,
       Ears, heels, or toes,—
     Or'd 'a' cared if he had?
       Nobody knows!

     V

     Nights by the kitchen-stove,
       Shellin' white and red
     Corn in the skillet, and
       Sleepin' four abed!
     Ah! the jolly winters
       Of the long-ago!
     We were not as old as now—
       O! No! No!