Page 85—Play Land

Johnny the Stout

"Ho! for a frolic!"
Said Johnny the stout;
"There's coasting and sledding;
I'm going out."

Scarcely had Johnny
Plunged in the snow,
When there came a complaint
Up from his toe:

"We're cold" said the toe,
"I and the rest;
There's ten of us freezing,
Standing abreast."

Then up spoke an ear;
"My, but it's labor—
Playing in winter. Eh!
Opposite neighbour!"

"Pooh!" said his nose,
Angry and red;
"Who wants to tingle?
Go home to bed!"

Eight little fingers,
Four to a thumb,
All cried together—
"Johnny, we're numb!"

But Johnny the stout
Wouldn't listen a minute;
Never a snow-bank
But Johnny was in it.

Tumbling and jumping,
Shouting with glee,
Wading the snow-drifts
Up to his knee.

Soon he forgot them,
Fingers and toes,
Never once thought of
The ear and the nose.

Ah! What a frolic!
All in a glow,
Johnny grew warmer
Out in the snow.

Often his breathing
Came with a joke;
"Blaze away, Johnny!
I'll do the smoke."

"And I'll do the fire,"
Said Johnny the bold.
"Fun is the fuel
For driving off cold."

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