Tell you what I like the best — ‘ Long about knee-deep in June, ‘ Bout the time strawberries melts On the vine,— some afternoon
Like to jes’ git out and rest, And not work at nothin’ else’ Orchard's where I'd ruther be — Need n't fence it in fer me!—
Jes’ the whole sky overhead, And the whole airth underneath — Sorto’ so's a man kin breathe Like he ort, and kindo’ has
Elbow-room to keerlessly Sprawl out len'thways on the grass Where the shadders thick and soft As the kivvers on the bed
Mother fixes in the loft Allus, when they's company! Jes’ a-sorto’ lazin’ there — S'lazy,‘ at you peek and peer
Through the wavin’ leaves above, Like a feller‘ at's in love And do n't know it, ner do n't keer! Ever'thing you hear and see
Got some sort o’ interest — Maybe find a bluebird's nest Tucked up there conveenently Fer the boy‘ at's ap’ to be
Up some other apple-tree! Watch the swallers skootin’ past ‘ Bout as peert as you could ast, Er the Bob-white raise and whiz
Where some other's whistle is Ketch a shadder down below, And look up to find the crow — Er a hawk,— away up there,
‘ Pearantly FROZE in the air!— Hear the old hen squawk, and squat Over ever’ chick she's got, Suddent-like!— and she knows where
That-air hawk is, well as you!— You jes’ bet yer life she do!— Eyes a-glitterin’ like glass, Waitin’ till he makes a pass!
Pee-wees’ singin’, to express My opinion,‘ s second class, Yit you'll hear‘ em more er less; Sapsucks gittin’ down to biz,
Weedin’ out the lonesomeness; Mr. Bluejay, full o’ sass, In them base-ball clothes o’ his, Sportin’ round the orchard jes’
Like he owned the premises! Sun out in the fields kin sizz, But flat on yer back, I guess, In the shade's where glory is!
That's jes’ what I'd like to do Stiddy fer a year er two! Plague! ef they ai n't somepin’ in Work‘ at kindo’ goes ag'in’
My convictions!—‘ long about Here in June especially!— Under some old apple-tree, Jes’ a-restin’ through and through
I could git along without Nothin’ else at all to do Only jes’ a-wishin’ you Wuz a-gittin’ there like me,
And June was eternity! Lay out there and try to see Jes’ how lazy you kin be!— Tumble round and souse yer head
In the clover-bloom, er pull Yer straw hat acrost yer eyes And peek through it at the skies, Thinkin’ of old chums‘ at's dead,
Maybe, smilin’ back at you In betwixt the beautiful Clouds o’ gold and white and blue. Month a man kin railly love
June, you know, I'm talkin’ of! March ai n't never nothin’ new! Aprile's altogether too Brash fer me! and May — I jes’
‘ Bominate its promises, Little hints o’ sunshine and Green around the timber-land — A few blossoms, and a few
Chip-birds, and a sprout er two,— Drap asleep, and it turns in ‘ Fore daylight and SNOWS ag'in!— But when JUNE comes — Clear my th'oat
With wild honey!— Rench my hair In the dew! and hold my coat! Whoop out loud! and th'ow my hat!— June wants me, and I'm to spare!
Spread them shadders anywhere, I'll git down and waller there, And obleeged to you at that!
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