Ole Tom & Lena lived by lake in Nordern Minnesota . It vas early vinter and da lake had froze over.

Ole Tom asked Lena if she vould valk across da frozen lake to da yeneral store to get him some smokes. She asked him for some money, but he told her, Nah, yust put it on our tab.

So Lena valked across, got the smokes at da yeneral store, den walked back home across the frozen lake. Ven she got home and gave Ole Tom his smokes, she asked him, Ole, you alvays tell me not to run up da tab at da store. Why didn't you yust give me some money?

Ole Tom replied, Vell, I didn't vant to send you out dere vit some money ven I vasn't sure how tick the ice vas yet.