Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/Dot Long-Handled Dippee

Der boet may sing off " Der Oldt Oaken

Bookit,"

Und in schveetest langvitch its virtues may tell,

Und how, vhen a poy, he mit eggsdasy dook it,

Vhen dripping mit coolness it rose vrom der

vell. I don'd take some schtock in dot manner off

trinking!

It vas too mooch like horses und cattle, I dink. Dhere vas more sadisfactions, in my vay of

dinking,

Mit dot long-handled dipper, dot hangs py der sink.

rHow schveet vrom der green mossy brim to

receive it"—

Dot vould soundt pooty goot—eef it only vas true—

Der vater schbills ofer, you petter pelieve it! Und runs down your schleeve, und schlep*

indo your shoe. Dhen down on your nose comes dot oldt iron

handle,

Und makes your eyes vater so gvick as a vink. I dells you dot bookit it don'd hold a candle To dot long-handled dipper, dot hangs py der sink.

How nice it musd been in der rough vinter

veddher, When it settles righdt down to a coldt, freezing

rain,

To haf dot rope coom oup so light as a feddher,

Und find dot der bookit vas proke off der chain,

Dhen down in der vell mit a pole you go fishing,

Vhile indo your back coonis an oldt-fashicmed

kink;

I pet you mine life all der time you vas vishing For dot long-handled dipper, dot hangs py der sink.

How handy it vas schust to turn on der faucet, Yhere der vater flows down vrom der schpring on der hill!

I schust vas der schap dot vill always indorse it, Oxsbecially nighdts vhen der veddher vas chill.

Vhen Pfeiffer's oldt veil mit der schnow ras all

cofered,

Und he vades droo der schnow-drift to get him a trink,

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I schlips vrom der hearth, vhere der schiltren

vas hofered,

To dot long-handled dipper, dot hangs py der sink.

Dhen gife oup der bookits und pails to der horses, Off mikerobes und tadpoles schust gife dhem

dheir fill!

Gife me dot pure water dot all der time courses Droo dhose pipes dot run down vrom der

schpring on der hill.

Und eef der goot dings off dis vorld I gets rich in Und frendts all aroundt me dheir glasses schall

clink,

I schtill vill remember dot oldt country kitchen, Und dot long-handled dipper, dot hangs py der sink.