Land Clearing.

The first winter which I did spend             In Canada was with a friend,             And when the snow had passed away             Quite early in the month of May.             Friend started off for a barn raising,             And told me to get stumps ablazing,             Around each stump I heaped a pile             Of roots and junks of wood so vile.             For he wished the field to clear             So it a crop of wheat would rear,             And there was one high withered pine             Which was full of turpentine.             As soon as I applied the torch,             Blaze quick did start and it did scorch             The fences, and the woods were nigh,             For the old tree it blazed on high.             I was the only man or boy             Near there that day and found employ             In saving of the house and barn,             Thus early fire fiend did me warn.             Fire started and with it a breeze             Carried the sparks 'mong leaves of trees,             I did work hard but for recompense             All was saved but a few rails of fence.             Man in spring logging oft awakes             From winter slumbers nests of snakes,             And listens to the music grand             Of bull frogs, our Canadian band.