IT was a Jolly Miller lived on the River Dee; He looked upon his piller, and there he found a flea: "O Mr. Flea! you have bit me, And you shall shorely die!" So he scrunched his bones ag'inst the stones -- And there he let him lie! 'Twas then the Jolly Miller he laughed and told his wife, And @3she@1 laughed fit to kill her, and dropped her carving knife! -- "O Mr. Flea!" "Ho-ho!" "Tee-hee!" They @3both@1 laughed fit to kill, Until the sound did almost drownd The rumble of the mill! @3"Laugh on, my Jolly Miller! and Missus Miller, too!@1 -- @3But there's a weeping-willer will soon wave over you!"@1 The voice was all so awful small -- So very small and slim! -- He durst' infer that it was her, Ner her infer 'twas him! That night the Jolly Miller, says he, "It's, Wifey dear, That cat o' yourn, I'd kill her! -- her actions is so queer, -- She's rubbin's 'g'inst the grindstone-legs, And yowlin' at the sky -- And I 'low the moon hain't greener Than the yaller of her eye!" And as the Jolly Miller went chuckleun to bed, Was @3Somepin'@1 jerked his piller from underneath his head! 'O Wife," says he, on-easi-lee, "Fetch here that lantern there!" But @3Somepin'@1 moans in thunder-tones, @3"You tetch it ef you dare!"@1 'Twas then the Jolly Miller he trimbled and he quailed -- And his wife choked until her breath come back, 'n' she @3wailed!@1 And @3"Oh!"@1 cried she, "it is @3the Flea,@1 All white and pale and wann -- He's got you in his clutches, and @3He's bigger than a man!"@1 @3"Ho! ho! my Jolly Miller" (fer 'twas the Flea, fer shore!),@1 @3"I reckon you'll not rack my bones ner scrunch 'em any more!"@1 Then @3the Flea-Ghost@1 he grabbed him clos't, With many a ghastly smile. And from the door-step stooped and hopped About four hunderd mile! |