Classic Poem

Vhen shnow und ice vas on der ground,
Und merry shleigh-bells shingle;
Vhen Shack Frost he vas been around,
Und makes mine oldt ears tingle —
I hear dhose roguish gamins say,
" Let shoy pe unconfined! "
Und dhen dhey go for efry shleigh,
Und yell, " Cut, cut pehind! "

It makes me shust feel young some more
To hear dhose youngsters yell,
Und eef I don'd vas shtiff und sore,
Py shings! I shust vould — vell,
Vhen some oldt pung vas coomin' py,
I dink I'd feel inclined
To shump righdt in upon der shly,
Und shout, " Cut, cut pehind! "

I mind me vot mine fader said
Vonce, vhen I vas a poy,
Mit meeschief alvays in mine head,
Und fool off life und shoy.
" Now, Hans, keep off der shleighs, " says he,
" Or else shust bear in mind,
I dake you righdt across mine knee,
Und cut, cut, cut pehind! "

Vell, dot vas years und years ago,
Und mine young Yawcob, too,
Vas now shkydoodling droo der shnow,
Shust like I used to do;
Und vhen der pungs coom py mine house,
I shust peeks droo der plind,
Und sings oudt, " Go id, Yawcob Strauss,
Cut, cut, cut, cut pehind! "