Riley Farm-Rhymes






THE TREE-TOAD

     "'S cur'ous-like," said the tree-toad,
       "I've twittered fer rain all day;
       And I got up soon,
       And hollered tel noon—
     But the sun, hit blazed away,
       Tell I jest clumb down in a crawfish-hole,
       Weary at hart, and sick at soul!

     "Dozed away fer an hour,
       And I tackled the thing agin:
         And I sung, and sung,
         Tel I knowed my lung
       Was jest about give in;
         And THEN, thinks I, ef hit don't rain NOW,
         They's nothin' in singin', anyhow!

     "Onc't in a while some farmer
       Would come a-drivin' past;
         And he'd hear my cry,
         And stop and sigh—
       Tel I jest laid back, at last,
         And I hollered rain tel I thought my th'oat
         Would bust wide open at ever' note!

     "But I FETCHED her!—O I FETCHED her!—
       'Cause a little while ago,
         As I kindo' set,
         With one eye shet,
       And a-singin' soft and low,
         A voice drapped down on my fevered brain,
         A-sayin',—'EF YOU'LL JEST HUSH I'LL RAIN!'"

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