Housed In

I hev a lot uv fun down here altho’ it’s fur way

Frum town an’ noise an’ all uv that, that makes life bright an’ gay;

No neighbors nigher’n two long miles, an’ woods on ev’ry side,

An’ hills an’ dales an’ crooked paths, an’ roads too rough to ride.

Tough weather mostly, “crick” froze up, three foot or more uv snow,

No neighbors scarcely droppin’ in, an’ no wers much to go;

Housed in the hull long winter month but after all I get

Contentment round the old wood fire, an’ here I set an’ set.

Kin hear the foxes bark at night way off on Miller’s hill,

An’ her a hoot-owl now an’ then when ev’rything is still;

Kin hear the ice cracks thunder down the “crick” an’ die away,

Or listen to the branches ez they wildly whip an’ sway.

Git papers once a week an’ read the news frum fur an’ near,

An’ set an’ plan the farmin’ work fur all the comin’ year.

Housed in the long, cold winter month, but jest the same I get

Contentment round the old wood fire, n’ here I set an’ set.

Feb. 14, 1904