A Summer Pastoral
It’s hot to-day. The bees is buzzin’Kinder don’t-keer-like aroun’An’ fur off the warm air dancesO’er the parchin’ roofs in town.In the brook the cows is standin’;Childern hidin’ in the hay;Can’t keep none of ’em a workin’,’Cause it’s hot to-day.
It’s hot to-day. The sun is blazin’Like a great big ball o’ fire;Seems as ef instead o’ settin’It keeps mountin’ higher an’ higher.I’m as triflin’ as the children,Though I blame them lots an’ scold;I keep slippin’ to the spring-house,Where the milk is rich an’ cold.
The very air within its shadderSmells o’ cool an’ restful things,An’ a roguish little robinSits above the place an’ sings.I don’t mean to be a shirkin’,But I linger by the wayLonger, mebbe, than is needful,’Cause it’s hot to-day.
It’s hot to-day. The horses stumbleHalf asleep across the fiel’s;An’ a host o’ teasin’ fanciesO’er my burnin’ senses steals,—Dreams o’ cool rooms, curtains lowered,An’ a sofy’s temptin’ look;Patter o’ composin’ raindropsOr the ripple of a brook.
I strike a stump! That wakes me sudden;Dreams all vanish into air.Lordy! how I chew my whiskers;‘Twouldn’t do fur me to swear.But I have to be so keerful’Bout my thoughts an’ what I say;Somethin’ might slip out unheeded,’Cause it’s hot to-day.
Git up, there, Suke! you, Sal, git over!Sakes alive! how I do sweat.Every stitch that I’ve got on me,Bet a cent, is wringin’ wet.If this keeps up, I’ll lose my temper.Gee there, Sal, you lazy brute!Wonder who on airth this weatherCould ‘a’ be’n got up to suit?
You, Sam, go bring a tin o’ water;Dash it all, don’t be so slow!‘Pears as ef you tuk an hour’Tween each step to stop an’ blow.Think I want to stand a meltin’Out here in this b’ilin’ sun,While you stop to think about it?Lift them feet o’ your’n an’ run.
It ain’t no use; I’m plumb fetaggled.Come an’ put this team away.I won’t plow another furrer;It’s too mortal hot to-day.I ain’t weak, nor I ain’t lazy,But I’ll stand this half day’s loss‘Fore I let the devil make meLose my patience an’ git cross.