"Knit—knit—knit—
If you've patriot blood in your veins!
Knit—knit—knit—
For our boys on Southern plains.
Our boys on Southern hills,
Our boys on Southern vales,
By the woods and streams of Dixie's Land,
Are feeling the wintry gales.
"Knit—knit—knit—
The socks, and mittens, and gloves!
Knit—knit—knit—
Each one that her country loves!
The mittens with finger and thumb complete,
The gloves for the drummers their drums to beat,
And the nice warm socks for the shivering feet,
Knit—knit—knit!"
"Is that all you can remember? Oh, how good it is!" cried the children.
"Suppose I make a verse?" said the little mother.
"Oh, do! do! they all entreated.
"Well, here it is:
"And if you can't knit—crochèt![1]
The mittens with finger and thumb,
The old ones can finish a pair in a day,
And the children each make one.
For George, and his comrades brave,
Who have gone our country to save,
Will work heart and hand, till we make Dixie's land
Repent for her sins, and behave!"
The children thought this a capital verse, and Johnny came very near exclaiming, "Bully for you." Very luckily, he recollected himself in time, for his mother would have sent him to bed in "double quick," if he had uttered this vulgar, slang expression.
[1] Pronounced croshày.