And many more things, I tell you, ’tis so—
For he knows more’n anybody, and ’ats true.
I fink I’ll marry grandpa, he pleases me so fine.
The best ain’t ever good enough for me to dine.
Our own way we can have, when he comes to stay
To look after us and spend the day.
If our toys lay around on our very best floor,
And we pin pictures up on the walls and the door;
The noise that we make—we jump up and down,
On our beautiful sofa, in our parlor of brown.
He didn’t say one teentsy bit a word,
For he had a nap, and never has heard.
He looks for his glasses—they are on his nose;
Now this is a fine time for me to propose.
But mother came home, not one word did she say,
Except, you have had a good time today.
When grandpa was gone, we could see by her looks,
Something that’s not often written in books.
We got scared as could be—we hustled around,
To put things back in the place we had found;
Now, mammy, don’t please say one word to dad,
For this was the best day we ever have had;
We wish you’d have grandpa come every day,
Never to leave us, but come here to stay.
We love you and daddy as much as we can,
But we also love grandpa, he’s such a fine man.
Christmas in Norway.
Good Shepherd, I pray Thee, let Santa come
And bring us the things we have asked for so long;
There’s Gerald needs shoes, his old ones are too bad,
And an overcoat, a warm one, for the very best dad;
There’s Peer, need’s a cap, to keep out the cold,
We have looked at one longingly—but it was sold.
And a big bisque doll, for our golden haired sister;
Now please don’t forget us, I pray you, Kind Mister,
And don’t forget mother; now what does she need;
It seems to take all dad can make, us to feed,
To keep out the cold, the snow is so deep;
Amen, Kind Shepherd, I lay me to sleep.
Santa (Yulenissen) had heard the prayers that he said;
At six Christmas Eve great bundles on the sofa were spread,
First the feasting begins, on roast goose and almond rice,
Even those not as fortunate have everything nice.
Then the candles are lit on the pine tree so bright;
It is indeed a most beautiful sight,
Everyone joins hands and dance ’round the tree,
Singing old songs and laughing—such glee.
Then when the colored lights are burning low
The gifts are distributed with many an Oh!
Gifts were substantial, for fathers and mothers,
And more than they prayed for these little brothers,
Some skis and some skates, three pairs of glad eyes,
So full of happiness and full of surprise,
And a golden haired doll, with soft eyes of blue,
Its new little mother lisped, prayers do come true.
This was Christmas Eve in Norway, not a great while ago;
The land of glaciers, ice and snow;
Where reindeers pull Santa over mountains high.
Click, click through the ice covered fjords they fly,
To visit the homes of the Norsemen, so hardy.
They understand, not one minute tardy,
In furs he is wrapped, from his head to his feet,
To protect him from cold, the sharp wind and the sleet.
Sometimes folks ask Santa to come in and dine,
A warm bowl of soup, or some red sparkling wine.
The peasants he visits; there is rarely a year
That he ever misses these children so dear.
He loves them because they are human and kind,
And a more honest people, he knows, hard to find;
The unfortunate are the ones he always loves best,
For the rich, he knows, are already blest.