Dis mornin’ when I went ter po’
Water out my cabin do’,
I wus sho surprised ter see,
While de darkness all roun’ me,
Snow wus des er fallin’ down
Till it civered all de groun’.
Bin des ’bout two yeahs or mo’
Sence I seed a flake ob snow;
En I call to Mandy: “Say!
Heah’s a sight, fo’ sho, ter-day!
Yestiday was lak de spring;
Look what des one night done bring.”
En she come en poke her head
Out from under dat ole shed;
En she say: “When you go down
Ter de Massa’s in de town,
You mus’ civer up yo’ back
Wid a nice warm crocus sack.”

En she say: “Yo’ shoes am ole;
Sho dey days am neahly tole.”
En she wrap ’em, fo’th en back,
Wid dem bits ob crocus sack,
Till you hardly see my feet
When I walk erlong de street.
Massa p’int ter dem en say:
“Wouldn’t dress up dat erway!
Why’n’t you git some rubber shoes?
You could buy ’em if you choose.”
But I won’t! Kaze don’t I know
Soon de sun gwine drink dat snow?