Tickle Cove Pond

In cutting, in hauling, in frost and in snow
We're up against troubles that few people know
And it's only by courage and patience and grit
And eating plain food that we keep ourselves fit
In the hard and the easy, we take as it comes
And when ponds freeze over, we shorten our runs
For to hurry my hauling with spring coming on
I near lost me a mare out on Tickle Cove Pond

So lay hold William Oldford, lay hold William White
Lay hold of the cordage and pull all your might
Lay hold of the bowline and pull all you can
And give me a lift with poor Kit on the pond

Now I knew that the ice became weaker each day
But still took the risk and kept hauling away
'til one evening in April, bound home with a load
The mare showed some halting against the ice road
She knew more than I did as matters turned out
Been lucky for me had I joined her in doubt
She turned round her head, and with tears in her eyes
As if she were saying, "You're risking our lives"
All this I ignored with a whip and a blow
Poor man is too stupid, dumb creatures do know
And the very next minute the pond gave a sigh
And down to our necks went poor Kitty and I
For if I had taken wise Kitty's advice
I'd never have made the shortcut on the ice
Poor creature she's dead, and poor creature she's gone
I'll ne'er get my mare out of Tickle Cove Pond

So lay hold William Oldford, lay hold William White
Lay hold of the cordage and pull all your might
Lay hold of the bowline and pull all you can
And give me a lift with poor Kit on the pond

So I raised an alarm you could hear for a mile
And neighbours turned up in a very short while
You can always rely on the Oldfords and Whites
To render assistance in all your bad plights
To help a poor neighbour is part of their lives
The same I can say for their children and wives
So when the bowline was fastened around the mare's breast
William White for a shanty song made a request
There was no time for thinking, no time for delay
So straight from his head came this song right away

Lay hold William Oldford, lay hold William White
Lay hold of the cordage and pull all your might
Lay hold of the bowline and pull all you can
And with that we hauled Kit out of Tickle Cove Pond