rm coat
From the pelt of a brown woolly bear;
Often I loved to trace its length
With eager hands through shaggy hair.

The forepaws fitted round his wrists,
The hind parts reached to his thighs,
And of the head he made a cap
That sheltered both his ears and eyes.

The doctor dearly loved the woods,
He was raised there from a child;
He was very fond of old-time ways,
If you scoffed them, he would chide.

He was good and sympathetic,
He traveled night and day;
He doctored many people,
Regardless of the pay.

Nels Tatum Rice was his name,
He was known for miles around;
Far beyond the county seat,
'Long the Big Sandy up and down.

His mother wove his winter clothes,
As a boy he'd case their furs;
With them to the county seat,
But once a year he'd go.

The merchant he would buy the fur,
It gladdened the boy's heart.
He had money in his jeans,
When for home he did start.

Boys, them days was full of glee,
Both husky, fat and strong.
Nels very soon retraced his steps,
It didn't take him long.

Safely, of home once more in sight,
The boy quite glad did feel.
For he could hear old Shep dog bark,
Hear the hum of the spinning wheel.

--Jilson Setters

MOUNTAIN WOMAN

'Tain't no use a-sittin' here
And peerin' at the sun,
A-wishin' I had purty things,
Afore my work is done.
I best had bug the taters
And fetch water from the run
And save my time fer wishin'
When all my work is done.

Paw heerd the squirrels a-barkin'
This morning on the hill,
And taken him his rifle-gun
And tonic fer his chill.
Menfolks ain't got no larnin'
And have no time to fill;
Paw spends his days in huntin'
Or putterin' round his still.

"'Tain't no use complainin'"
Is the song the wood thrush sings,
And I don't know of nothin'
That's as sweet as what he brings.
But I best had comb my honey
And churn that sour cream,