Snowshoeing Song

HILLOO, hilloo, hilloo, hilloo !
Gather, gather ye men in white ;
The winds blow keenly, the moon is bright,
The sparkling snow lies firm and white :
Tie on the shoes, no time to lose,
We must be over the hill to-night.

Hilloo, hilloo, hilloo, hilloo !
Swiftly in single file we go,
The city is soon left far below,
Its countless lights like diamonds glow ;
And as we climb, we hear the chime
Of church bells stealing o'er the snow.

Hilloo, hilloo, hilloo, hilloo !
Like winding-sheet about the dead,
O'er hill and dale the snow is spread,
And silences our hurried tread ;
The pines bend low, and to and fro
The maples toss their boughs o'erhead.

Hilloo, hilloo, hilloo, hilloo !
We laugh to scorn the angry blast,
The mountain top is gained and past.
Descent begins, 'tis ever fast —
One short quick run, and toil is done,
We reach the welcome inn at last.

Shake off, shake off the clinging snow ;
Unloose the shoe, the sash untie ;
Fling tuque and mittens lightly by ;
The chimney fire is blazing high,
And, richly stored, the festive board
Awaits the merry company.

Remove the fragments of the feast !
The steaming coffee, waiter, bring.
Now tell the tale, the chorus sing,
And let the laughter loudly ring ;
Here's to our host, drink down the toast,
Then up ! for time is on the wing.

Hilloo, hilloo, hilloo, hilloo !
The moon is sinking out of sight,
Across the sky dark clouds take flight,
And dimly looms the mountain height ;
Tie on the shoes, no time to lose,
We must be home again to-night.