Page 77—Santa Claus Land

Old Santa Claus
Old Santa Claus sat alone in his den,
With his leg crossed over his knee;
While a comical look peeped out at his eyes,
For a funny old fellow was he.
His queer little cap was tumbled and torn,
And his wig it was all awry;
But he sat and mused the whole day long,
While the hours went flying by.
He had been busy as busy can be,
In filling his pack with toys;
He had gathered his nuts and baked his pies,
To give to the girls and boys.
There were dolls for the girls, and whips for the boys,
With wheelbarrows, horses and drays,
And bureaus and trunks for Dolly's new clothes;
All these in his pack he displays.
Of candy too, both twisted and striped,
He had furnished a plentiful store,
While raisins and figs, and prunes and grapes,
Hung up on a peg by the door.
"I am almost ready," quoth he, quoth he,
"And Christmas is almost here;
But one thing more—I must write a book,
And give to each one this year."
So he clapped his specs on his little round nose,
And seizing the stump of a pen,
He wrote more lines in one little hour
Than you ever could write in ten.
He told them stories all pretty and new,
And wrote them all out in rhyme;
Then packed them away with his box of toys
To distribute one at a time.
And Christmas Eve, when all were in bed,
Right down the chimney he flew;
And stretching the stocking-leg out at the top,
He clapped in a book for you.
Santa Claus and the Mouse
One Christmas Eve, when Santa Claus
Came to a certain house,
To fill the children's stockings there,
He found a little mouse.
"A merry Christmas, little friend,"
Said Santa, good and kind.
"The same to you, sir!" said the mouse,
"I thought you wouldn't mind
If I should stay awake to night,
And watch you for a while."
"You're very welcome, little mouse,"
Said Santa, with a smile.
And then he filled the stockings up,
Before the mouse could wink,—
From toe to top, from top to toe,
There wasn't left a chink.
"Now, they won't hold another thing,"
Said Santa Claus with pride.
A twinkle came in mousie's eyes,
But humbly he replied:
"It's not nice to contradict—
Your pardon I implore,—
But in the fullest stocking there,
I could put one thing more."
"Oh, ho!" laughed Santa, "silly mouse!
Don't I know how to pack?
By filling stockings all these years,
I should have learned the knack."
And then he took the stocking down
From where it hung so high,
And said: "Now put in one thing more;
I give you leave to try."
The mousie chuckled to himself,
And then he softly stole
Right to the stocking's crowded toe,
And gnawed a little hole!
"Now, if you please, good Santa Claus,
I've put in one thing more;
For you will own, that little hole
Was not in there before."
How Santa Claus did laugh and laugh;
And then he gaily spoke;
"Well, you shall have a Christmas cheese,
For that nice little joke."
A Nice Little Present
"Our Santa Claus," cried Bettie,
"Is nice as any other;
He brought the nicest present
To me and to my mother.
"It was—oh, you can't guess it—
A darling little brother.
He kicks and cries, and shuts his eyes,
And he's sweet enough to eat.
"I'd rather have my baby brother
Than dolls or candy—so would my mother."
The Night Before Christmas
Curly heads, so softly pillowed;
Chubby arms outspread;
Thousand fancies swiftly flying
Through each little head.
Clasping treasures newly garnered,
Dolly, book, and ball,
Still they dream of coming pleasures
Greater than them all.
Christmas-trees of gorgeous beauty,
Filled with presents rare;
Toys unheard of, joys unnumbered,
All delights are there.
Angel forms, with smiling faces,
Hover round the bed;
Angel feet make echoing music
As they lightly tread.
Angel voices, softly thrilling,
Chant a lullaby:
"Darlings, dream, and sweetly slumber,
We are watching by."
Who from dreams like these would waken
To a world of pain?
"Hush, then, dear ones! Have we roused you?
Turn and dream again."

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