Ya know, all the goin’s on these days reminds me of when I was a young fella, and about one time when this pretty young school teacher come to our place. Of course now all the boys wanted to get out with her, but I made up me mind, be hook or be crook, I was goin’ to have the first smack at her.

Now it happened that old Sam Smith over across the harbour, was havin’ a dance in his store on the very first night she got here, and I was lucky-cause the new schoolmarm was stayin’ down to me aunt Jessie’s. Well sir, right after supper I gets meself all slicked up, put a few nails in me pocket-I had to have something to jingle, makes a good impression ya know – and off I goes as large as life down to me aunt Jessie’s. Now be the time I got down there I wasn’t feelin’ quite so bold, I was only a young crackie then myself ya know, and askin’ any girl out was a big thing – but this was the new schoolmarm! Well I hung around outside fer a spell, but bum bye I got up nerve enough to go in, and somehow I got around to askin’ her to the dance. Sure enough she agreed to go with me, and be the time she was ready, twas time for us to shove off. So of we goes down to the landwash and I pushes of me dory.

Now b’y I tell ‘e, I was feelin’ some proud! Here I was rowin’ across the harbour with the new schoolmarm sittin’ in the aft o’ me dory. Yes sir, there she was as pretty as a picture, wearin’ a lovely red dress and new rubber boots!

Well, we tied up at old Sam Smith’s wharf, and I waited for the new schoolmarm to climb up first – of course now I looked the other way, after all she was the schoolmarm and I had to mind me manners.

Now when we gets to the store, sure the dance is in full swing, and it didn’t take long, before we was kickin’ up our heels with the best of ‘em.

Later that night, I’d say it was about twelve o’clock, the new schoolmarm says to me, “Hiram” says she, “yes ma’am” says I. “Tis terrible warm” says she, “yes ma’am“ , says I, but I sees that she’s watching the fellers and girls who’s going outside in the dark. “Let’s go outdoors” says she, “yes ma’am”, says I – and b’y did she snuggle up close out there in the dark. Now twas awful warm inside the store, but I tell e’ it was nothing compared to how hot it got out behind it!