Had left his winter-quarters underground,
And, with a sober pace,
Was crawling o’er a sunny bed,
And thrusting from his shell his pretty toad-like head.
Just come from sea, a swallow,
As to and fro he nimbly flew,
Beat our old racer hollow:
At length, he stopped direct in view,
And said, “Acquaintance brisk and gay,
How have you fared this many a day?”