Frost In Gungawamp

O the frost is on the punkin,

     An’ it’s on the plant an’ vine,

It is on the walls an’ fences,

     An’ on ev’rything that’s mine;

For it come so awful ‘arly,

     An’ with sech a sudden jump,

It jes’ ketched us all a-nappin’

     Way down here in Gungawamp,

Hedn’t picked my late termarters,

     Hedn’t got my melons in;

Hedn’t got nigh ha’f my taters

     Dug an’ kerried in the bin.

I wuz jest a-gittin’ ready,

     Like a keerless, lazy chump,

When the frost come good an’ heavy

     Way down here in Gungawamp.

Yes, the frost is on the punkin,

     Jest ez Whitcomb Riley said;

It is on my field an’ garden,

     Likewise Hannah’s flower bed.

Ketched us nappin’ bright an’ ‘arly,

     Garden sass hez gone up stump;

But we’ll be awake next Autumn,

     Way down here in Gungawamp.

Oct. 1, 1904