Ride to School in Winter
“We are ready;
Let us go
Swiftly over
Ice and snow;
Nell and Susie,
Side by side,
You shall have
A glorious ride!”
See the happy children go
Smoothly o’er the ice and snow!
“Clasp your arms
Around me tight;
Hold on, Susie,
That is right;—
Nellie, keep
The basket still
When we dash
Down yonder hill!”
Thus the happy children go
Briskly o’er the ice and snow.
“Wintry weather
Cannot harm us,
Nor Jack Frost
E’er alarm us;
How exciting!
Onward move,
Hearts uniting
Thus in love.”
Merrily singing, on they go
Quickly o’er the ice and snow.
“Oh, we love
This bracing air,
Though the snow
Is everywhere;
Fingers cold?
Never mind it.
There’s a fire,
We shall find it,
When we reach the school, you know,
Over the ice and over the snow.
“Now we toil
Up the hill,
Wear-i-ly,
But upward still,
Soon the height
We shall gain,
Pull the sled
With might and main.”
Struggling, toiling, up they go
Wearily over the ice and snow!
Then along
The level ground,
On they go
With a bound;
Merry shouts
Everywhere
Ringing through
The frosty air;
See the happy children go
Smoothly o’er the ice and snow!
See! they’re dashing
Down the hill,
Boys are calling,
“Nell, be still!”
Teeth are chattering
In her head,
Dishes rattling
On the sled;
Girls are frightened though they go
Safely o’er the ice and snow.
Now they near
The school-house door—
There’s the pond
All frozen o’er;
Hear the happy
Children singing,
Through the air
Their voices ringing;
Sliding, skating, merrily, oh!
Swiftly over the ice and snow!
Nell and Sue
Have found a seat,
And have warmed
Their hands and feet;
When the bell
Rings loud and clear,
Leave your sports
Children dear!
Quickly into the school they go,
Merrily leaving the ice and snow.