I. <br /> <br />In the jolly winters <br />Of the long-ago, <br />It was not so cold as now-- <br />O! No! No! <br />Then, as I remember, <br />Snowballs, to eat, <br />Were as good as apples now, <br />And every bit as sweet! <br /> <br />II. <br /> <br />In the jolly winters <br />Of the dead-and-gone, <br />Bub was warm as summer, <br />With his red mitts on,-- <br />Just in his little waist- <br />And-pants all together, <br />Who ever heard him growl <br />About cold weather? <br /> <br />III. <br /> <br />In the jolly winters of the long-ago-- <br />Was it _half_ so cold as now? <br />O! No! No! <br />Who caught his death o' cold, <br />Making prints of men <br />Flat-backed in snow that now's <br />Twice as cold again? <br /> <br />IV. <br /> <br />In the jolly winters <br />Of the dead-and-gone, <br />Startin' out rabbit-hunting <br />Early as the dawn,-- <br />Who ever froze his fingers, <br />Ears, heels, or toes,-- <br />Or'd a cared if he had? <br />Nobody knows! <br /> <br />V. <br /> <br />Nights by the kitchen-stove, <br />Shelling white and red <br />Corn in the skillet, and <br />Sleepin' four abed! <br />Ah! the jolly winters <br />Of the long-ago! <br />We were not so old as now-- <br />O! No! No!<br /><br />James Whitcomb Riley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/old-man-s-nursery-rhyme/
