IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
O, the sleddin’s gettin’ ragged and it’s dodge
and skip and skive,
Till it’s jest an aggravation for to try to start
and drive.
Fust to this side, then to t’other—here some
ice and there some snow,
—Just continyal gee and holler; fust “Gid-
dap,” and then it’s “Whoa!”
Takes a half a day to git there, round by way
o’ Robin Hood;
Like as not ye’ll bust your riggin’ haulin’ out
your hay and wood.
’Tain’t no way o’ doin’ bus’ness; ’tain’t no
way to haul a load,
—You must do your hefty haulin’ in the mid-
dle of the road.
If ye want to keep a-hoein’
Better wait for settled goin’,
For twice the heft goes easy in the middle of
the road.
O, in dealin’s with your neighbors, brother,
sure as you’re alive,
It’s better to go straight ahead and never skip
or skive.
For the man who keeps a-dodgin’ back and
forth across the way
Like enough will find his outfit in the gutter,
stuck to stay.
Till the road is clear and settled, till with can-
dor in your heart
You can see your way before you, guess ye
hadn’t better start;
For to get there square and easy; and to lug
your honest load,
You’ll find it’s best to travel in the middle of
the road.
—So’s to make an honest showin’
Better wait for settled goin’,
Then, s’r, hustle brisk and stiddy in the mid-
dle of the road.