Old Man's Nursery Rhyme

I. In the jolly winters Of the long-ago, It was not so cold as now-- O! No! No! Then, as I remember, Snowballs, to eat, Were as good as apples now, And every bit as sweet! II. In the jolly winters Of the dead-and-gone, Bub was warm as summer, With his red mitts on,-- Just in his little waist- And-pants all together, Who ever heard him growl About cold weather? III. In the jolly winters of the long-ago-- Was it _half_ so cold as now? O! No! No! Who caught his death o' cold, Making prints of men Flat-backed in snow that now's Twice as cold again? IV. In the jolly winters Of the dead-and-gone, Startin' out rabbit-hunting Early as the dawn,-- Who ever froze his fingers, Ears, heels, or toes,-- Or'd a cared if he had? Nobody knows! V. Nights by the kitchen-stove, Shelling white and red Corn in the skillet, and Sleepin' four abed! Ah! the jolly winters Of the long-ago! We were not so old as now-- O! No! No!