Tried to _dos-a-dos_ by you, dear,
And, instead, waltzed on your toes.
Recollect? I stopped the fiddler,
And I stopped that stomping crowd,
Using language that was decent,
But was mighty clear and loud:
"Now, you fellers from the Sand Hills,
Fight me, or if you refuse
You don't dance with me and Nancy
While a one of you wears shoes!"


7

Yes, they took them off, Miss Nancy,
In respect for you and me,
Putting all on equal footing,
Just the way it ought to be.
And we went through all the figures
That we knew in that quadrille,
But it didn't seem like dancin',
Steppin' round so awful still.
Fiddler, even, did his calling
In a sort of quiet hush--
"Swing your pardners," "Back to places,"
"Sounds to me like paddlin' mush."
"Man in center," "Circle round him,"
"All join hands," and "'Way you go,"
"Wait fur Betsy, she's in trouble,
With a splinter in her toe."