From the February 14, 1885 edition of the Kentucky Gazette
Popping Corn
And there they set a popping corn,
John Stiles and Susan Cutter,
John Stiles as fat as any ox,
and Susan fat as butter.
And there they sat and shelled the corn,
and raked and stirred the fire,
and talked of different kinds of ears,
and hitched their chairs up nigher.
Then Susan, she the popper shook,
and John he shook the popper,
till both their faces grew as red
as a saucepan made of copper.
And they shelled and popped and ate,
all kinds of fun in poking,
and he haw-hawed at her remarks,
and she laughed at his joking.
And still they popped, and still they ate;
John's mouth was like a hopper,
and stirred the fire and sprinkled the salt,
and shook and shook the popper.
The clock struck nine and then struck ten,
and still the corn kept popping;
it struck eleven - then struck twelve,
and still no sign of stopping.
And John he ate, and Susan thought -
the corn did pop and patter;
till he cried out: "The corn's afire!
Why Susan, what's the matter?"
Said she: "John Stiles, it's one o'clock.
You'll die of indigestion;
I'm sick of all this popping corn -
Why don't you pop the question?"