A Treat Ode
Reading edition
"Scurious-like," said the treetoad, "I've twittered fer rain all day; And I got up soon, And hollered till noon— But the sun hit blazed away, Till I jest clumb down in a crawfish-hole Weary at heart, and sick at soul! "Dozed away fer an hour, And I tackled the thing agin; And I sung, and sung, Till I knowed my lung Was jest about to give in; And then, thinks I, ef it don't rain now, There're nothin' in singin' anyhow. "Once in a while some farmer Would come a driven' past And he'd hear my cry, And stop and sigh— Till I jest laid back, at last, And I hollered rain till I thought my throat Would bust wide open at ever' note! "But I fetched her!—O I fetched her!— 'Cause a little while ago, As I kindo' set With one eye shet, And a-singin' soft and low, A voice drapped down on my fevered brain Sayin',—'Ef you'll jest hush I'll rain!'"