Owned a pair o’ skates onc't.— Traded
Fer‘ em,— stropped‘ em on and waded
Up and down the crick, a-waitin’
Tel she'd freeze up fit fer skatin’.
Mildest winter I remember —
More like Spring - than Winter-weather!—
Did n't frost tel bout December-
Git up airly ketch a’ feather
Of it, mayby,‘ crost the winder —
Sunshine swinge it like a cinder!
Well — I waited — and kep’ waitin’!
Could n't see my money's w'oth in
Them-air skates and was no skatin’,
Ner no hint o’ ice ner nothin’!
So, one day — along in airly
Spring — I swopped‘ em off — and barely
Closed the dicker,‘ fore the weather
Natchurly jes slipped the ratchet,
And crick — tail-race — all together,
Froze so tight cat could n't scratch it!