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