Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/"Cut, Cut Behind!"

by Charles Follen Adams

"CUT, CUT BEHIND!"

Vhen shnow und ice vas on der ground,

Und merry shleigh-bells shingle;

Vhen Shack Frost he vas been around,

Und makes mine oldt ears tingle—

I hear dhose roguish gamins say,

"Let shoy pe unconfined!"

Und dhen dhey go for efry shleigh,

Und yell, " Cut, cut pehind!"

It makes me shust feel young some more

To hear dhose youngsters yell,

Und eef I don'd vas shtiff und sore,

Py shings! I shust vould—vell,

Vhen some oldt pung vas coomin' py,

I dink I'd feel inclined

To shump righdt in upon der shly,

Und shout, "Cut, cut pehind!"

I mind me vot mine fader said

Vonce, vhen I vas a poy,

Mit meeschief alvays in mine head,

Und fool off life und shoy.

"Now, Hans, keep off der shleighs," says he,

"Or else shust bear in mind,

I dake you righdt across mine knee,

Und cut, cut, cut pehind!"

Vell, dot vas years und years ago,

Und mine young Yawcob, too,

Vas now shkydoodling droo der shnow,

Shust like I used to do;

Und vhen der pungs coom py mine house,

I shust peeks droo der plind,

Und sings oudt, " Go id, Yawcob Strauss,

Cut, cut, cut, cut pehind!"