When we hear Uncle Sidney tell br About the long-ago br An' old, old friends he loved so well br When he was young--My-oh!-- br Us childern all wish we'd 'a' bin br A-livin' then with Uncle,--so br We could a-kindo' happened in br On them old friends he used to know!-- br The good, old-fashioned people-- br The hale, hard-working people-- br The kindly country people br 'At Uncle used to know! br br They was God's people, Uncle says, br An' gloried in His name, br An' worked, without no selfishness, br An' loved their neighbers same br As they was kin: An' when they biled br Their tree-molasses, in the Spring, br Er butchered in the Fall, they smiled br An' sheered with all jist ever'thing!-- br br The good, old-fashioned people-- br The hale, hard-working people-- br The kindly country people br 'At Uncle used to know! br br He tells about 'em, lots o' times, br Till we'd all ruther hear br About 'em than the Nurs'ry Rhymes br Er Fairies--mighty near!-- br Only sometimes he stops so long br An' then talks on so low an' slow, br It's purt'-nigh sad as any song br To listen to him talkin' so br Of the good, old-fashioned people-- br The hale, hard-working people-- br The kindly country people br 'At Uncle used to know!br br James Whitcomb Rileybr br