In late September the load of coal arrived
Open wagon drawn by two draught horses
The drayman backed up to the coal chute
Gently coaxed his huge beasts  

Climbed off the seat and swung open
the iron coal door which produced a loud clang
just like the sound effects from a radio mystery show  
Grabbed his shovel from its place
Slid it into the coal on the wagon
Pulled back and swung it through the air  
The coal flew into the opening
Tumbled down to the coal bin in the basement
with tempo perfect bursts  

The wagon now empty it was time to pay
Ma counted out the scarce dollars
I hovered behind her wanted to go
close to the huge brown horses  
She had managed a team like that
at about nine years old
I thought they were the most wonderful
animals in the world better than noisy tractors  

Mister Reemstra climbed back up on the seat
Shook the reins and whistled softly
They clopped away and I wanted
that important job when I became a man