The Happy By An’ By

O the fishin’ days are comin’,

An’ the honey bees are hummin’,

And the medders they are dressin’ in their freshened coats uv green;

The summer birds are singin’,

An’ the medder larks are wingin’,

An' the hawks are sailin’ over jes’ to tippyfy the scene.

On the “crick” the water’s shinin’,

An' the country boy is pinin’

Fur a chance to swing a fish pole where the snappy pick’rel lie;

An’ the breeze is soft an’ meller

Jest to tanterlize a feller

An’ to make him start to hanker fur the happy by an’ by.

June 9, 1904