Classic Poem

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! —
Didn'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'!
Couldn't see my money's wo'th in
Them-air skates, and was no skatin'
Ner no hint o' ice ner nothin'!
So, one day — along in airly
Spring — I swapped '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 couldn't scratch it!