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THE NOVEMBER SNOW.
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MEMORIES The year was cold with little sun,
the snow came early in November
A girl was missing on the lake,
an incident we long remember.
Nellie was the maiden's name,
she was only ten years old
Unknown to her mum and dad,
knowing she would get a scold
she'd taken out her small canoe,
dragged it to the water's edge.
At lunch time she did not appear
her brother, Ben, did then allege
he'd seen her set off in her boat.
His statement caused some great alarm
Folks rallied round to search for her
mid fears that she had come to harm.
Dennis got the horses out,
they dragged the boat down to the shore
and taking blankets and a flask
they bent their backs against the oar.
Out in her boat the little girl had
dropped her oars into the lake
The wind was icy all that day
it crept inside and made her shake.
Her flimsy garments not designed
for wearing outdoors in such weather.
She was supposed to stay indoors
not roam in clothes light as a feather.
Sitting helpless in her craft
her danger worsened by the hour
no oars to row her home again
stuck on the lake, she had no power.
Soon hypothermia set in,
endangering her very life.
She'd called and called till she was hoarse,
she'd realised she was in some strife.
Meanwhile back upon the shore
alarm was raised, boat launched on water
Two men with eyes strained on alert
one looking for his only daughter.
Up the lake they rowed at speed
straining eyes to catch a sight
trying not to think the worst
pulling hard with all their might.
Suddenly far up ahead
they spied a dark blob on the water
hoping as they steered for it
that finally they had now caught her.
As they came upon her craft
they saw that she was in distress
Dad took the blanket from the boat
wrapped it over her thin dress.
Back at the house her mother prayed
that she'd be safely found that day
She watched the window constantly
all she could do was stand and pray.
It seemed she watched for endless time
till finally came into view
Two men and boat rowing fast
two men and rowboat that she knew.
At first she could not see her girl
lying prone down on the floor
her heart near stopped with fear that she
would never see her, nevermore.
As they stepped out of the boat
Dad lifting Nellie in his arms
relief swept swiftly over her
replacing all fearful alarms.
Yes snow came early on that year,
folks round here remember well
Not much sun for months on end,
the temperature,how low it fell.
But young recover very fast,
though Nellie near knew tragedy
It wasn't long before the lass
was troubling all mischieviously.
Young Nellie now is forty five,
time passes in its forward flow
Sometimes we talk about that year
The year of the November snow.
