A pillow of straw almost hid,
But the little hands looked as if frozen
That lay on the patched cover-lid.
A snow-cloud had sifted its samples,
Of eider-down over their feet,
And a star, looking in through the shingles,
Was spreading o’er them a bright sheet.
Old Santa had lost not a moment.
A cedar tree suddenly sprung
Into life just in front of the children,