THE TREE-TOAD

“‘ S cur'ous-like,” said the tree-toad,

“I've twittered fer rain all day;

And I got up soon,

And hollered tel noon —

But the sun, hit blazed away,

Tell I jest clumb down in a crawfish-hole,

Weary at hart, and sick at soul!

“Dozed away fer an hour,

And I tackled the thing agin:

And I sung, and sung,

Tel I knowed my lung

Was jest about give in;

And then, thinks I, ef hit do n't rain now,

They's nothin’ in singin’, anyhow!

“Onc't in a while some farmer

Would come a-drivin’ past;

And he'd hear my cry,

And stop and sigh —

Tel I jest laid back, at last,

And I hollered rain tel I thought my th'oat

Would bust wide open at ever’ note!

“But I fetched her!— O I fetched her!—

‘ Cause a little while ago,

As I kindo’ set,

With one eye shet,

And a-singin’ soft and low,

A voice drapped down on my fevered brain,

A-sayin’,—‘ Ef you'll jest hush I'll rain!’”