I miss the barking of the working dog
The bleating of the sheep
The crowing of the rooster
And the chicks with their peep peep
The little lambs in spring time
So soft and cuddly warm
We cared for them like babies
And kept them all from harm

I miss the neighing of the horse
The bucksaw noises too
The chopping of the axes
As we split the wood in two
Then we'd fill the wood box
That was a great delight
Put our birch junks in the oven
To keep us warm at night

I miss playing hopscotch on the roads
And skip rope on the grass
And chasing pretty butterflies
And catch them as they pass
Searching for a hen's nest
Sometimes they'd roam around
And we would find a bunch of eggs
In a nest out on the ground

I miss rowing boats in summertime
From cove to little cove
Picking berries on the islands
These were the things we loved
Skating on the harbour ice
In winter was the thing
And tippying on the ice pans
In the early days of spring

I miss chopping ice down in the well
So we could get some water
To cook lobscouse and fish and brewIs
For every son and daughter
The good old pork and cabbage
And the pots of schooner beans
The lassie tarts and country buns
And all the in betweens

There was no such thing as crease-free clothes
There were wrinkles everywhere
Ironing shirts and starching collars
Was a job beyond compare
Ironing from the kitchen stove
And scrubbing wooden floors
If there was time I'd run and play
Just outside the doors

I miss the one room school and cocomalt
Our little treat each day
The blasty boughs for bonfire night
We dragged from far away
The fireside chats on Sunday nights
And the many hymns we'd sing
We'd reminisce about the week
And talks of many things

I can't forget the good old outhouse
The coldness of the seat
And all the flies in summertime
Was not a lovely treat
I don't miss the good old outhouse
It's a boggle in my mind
And when I have a choice to make
I'll choose the other kind

These are the things I ponder
As I wander on my way
And thank God for the memories
I think of day by day
Memories are wonderful
They remind us of the past
The bad things God erases
But the good things they will last.   Submitted By: NULL