The Hoodoo.

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'!             Couldn'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 couldn't scratch it!