Felt the cold on his nose like a frosty knife

And was never so sleepy in all his life.

But still bang, whang on the cracked old door!

And Elkanah shouting, “Mos’ ha’f-pas’ four!”

But the louder the old man pounded and yapped

The more the drummer garped and gapped.

At last says he: “Is it stormy—oh-h-h?”

“Wall,” says Elkanah, “she’s spittin’ snow.”

P. Mortimer Perkins snuggled down

And says he, “This isn’t a blamed bad town;