The fire, was snappin’ clabboards on the house,

Like pistol shots thet kind o’ made us jump.

“It’s twenty-six below,” sez Bill, ez he

Throwed on another mess o’ coal; “I reck’n

We’ll need them extry quilts ternight. I’m glad

It’s be’n a-snowin’ some on thet ’ar field

O’ wheat this week; they wouldn’t be no crop

This spring if ’t hedn’t. Caint remember when

It’s ever be’n so cold afore here’bouts.

Reck’n Laury’s plants ’ll hev ter be brung up