"Come 'ere, come 'ere! mein leedle gal,
Und do not dremble so,
For I can lick der biggest schwan
Dot you to me can show."
He wrabbed her in his old pea koad,—
His joy, his life, his soul;
Und mit a piece of paper twine
He lashed her to a pole.
"Oh, dad, I hear der dinner bell!
I feel shust like grub-struck."
"Vel, hold yer tongue now, Mary Ann,
Und dry to bear your luck."
"Oh, dad, I see dot schwan again!
He'll eat both you und me;"
But dad he answered not a vord,
For stiff und frized vas he.
Den der goot girl she glasped her hands,
Und through her frost-bit nose
She said, "Now I avake to sleep,"
Dot she might not be froze.
Und dare, through rain and hurrycane,
Und through der schleet und schnow,
Der maiden prayed und begged der schwan
To pick up stakes und go.
But no; he schwam up to der wreck,
Und den der fun began;
He knocked der fellers off der deck,
But left shweed Mary Ann.
He picked und pecked der Hezberus,
Und lashed de pond to foam,
Und made de poor, wee, leedle shkiff
Look shust like honeycomb.
Den by der board der long bean-pole
Und Mary Ann did go;
Und shust like lead der shkiff went down.
Der schwan he roared, Ho! ho!
*****