1 ' 



A BIRCHWOOD FIRE. 



JAMES R. EDLIN. 



When the cold night winds a-howlin', 

 Set the ole hound a-growlin', 

 An' shake an' rattle doors an' winders, fit 

 to wake the dead ; 

 An' the winder panes is bright 

 With the frost-reflected light 

 A-shinin' from the birch logs in the fire- 

 place, blazin' red; 

 When I come a-stampin' in 

 From the milkin', it's a sin 

 The way I love to linger an' to stan' aroun' 

 an' gaze 

 In the fireplace, red an' roariri' 

 With the flames that go a-pourin' 

 Up the black an' smoky chimbley, 

 From a 

 Good 

 Birch 

 Blaze ! 



In the evenin', when the folks, 

 With their laffin' an' their jokes, 

 Make a ring about the fireside, an' pass 

 roun' the cider jug; 

 Then I love to watch the games 

 Of the leapin', dancin' flames, 

 As they wreath aroun' the forestick with 

 a sort o' lovin' hug; 

 Seems like they're full's kin be 

 Of the good will an' the glee 

 That's alius kind o' ketchin' in these crispy 

 winter days ; 

 An' in all the world around 

 Thar's nothin' to be found 

 So comfortin' an' cheerful 

 As a 

 Good 

 Birch 

 Blaze! 



New, when I wuz down to York, 

 I heerd our son's wife talk 

 'Bout their ole-fashion fireplace; but, praise 



it as she would, W4 



Be dad-dinged ef / could 

 See any earthly good 

 In a fireplace made o' gaspipes, painted up 

 to look like wood ! 

 So, when the rivers freeze, 

 Jest give me, if ye please, 

 A load o' seasoned birchwood, jest as big 

 as you kin raise, 

 An' enuf to eat an' drink ; 

 An' be danged ef I don't think 

 I could set an' loaf forever 

 By a 

 Good 

 Birch 

 Blaze 



io3 



