Lawzy! don't I rickollect br That-'air old swing in the lane! br Right and proper, I expect, br Old times can't come back again; br But I want to state, ef they br Could come back, and I could say br What my pick 'ud be, i jing! br I'd say, Gimme the old swing br 'Nunder the old locus'-trees br On the old place, ef you please!-- br Danglin' there with half-shet eye, br Waitin' fer the cat to die! br br I'd say, Gimme the old gang br Of barefooted, hungry, lean, br Ornry boys you want to hang br When you're growed up twic't as mean! br The old gyarden-patch, the old br Truants, and the stuff we stol'd! br The old stompin'-groun', where we br Wore the grass off, wild and free br As the swoop of the old swing, br Where we ust to climb and cling, br And twist roun', and fight, and lie-- br Waitin' fer the cat to die! br br 'Pears like I 'most allus could br Swing the highest of the crowd-- br Jes sail up there tel I stood br Downside-up, and screech out loud,-- br Ketch my breath, and jes drap back br Fer to let the old swing slack, br Yit my tow-head dippin' still br In the green boughs, and the chill br Up my backbone taperin' down, br With my shadder on the ground' br Slow and slower trailin' by-- br Waitin' fer the cat to die! br br Now my daughter's little Jane's br Got a kind o' baby-swing br On the porch, so's when it rains br She kin play there--little thing! br And I'd limped out t'other day br With my old cheer this-a-way, br Swingin' her and rockin' too, br Thinkin' how I ust to do br At her age, when suddently, br 'Hey, Gran'pap!' she says to me, br 'Why you rock so slow?' ...