The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-02-28
WHERE Is PAPA TONIGHT /,

"Why this is Christmas eve, mamma
So brother Charlie said
But what should make him tremble so,
And turn his blue eyes, red.
"And hold me in his arms so tight,
As If I'd run away.
Then kiss me half dozen times,
And send me back to playi
"I thought the merry Christmas came
To bring all sorts Of joys;
With lots OF dolls for little girls,
And books for little boys,
"And all along the street, mamma,
The lamps are shining so
And people-more than can count
Are running to and fro.
"But fere tits like the baby's sleep,
And but single light
Why don't we have some fun, mamma
And where's papa, tonight
"He said he'd come and make us all
AS gay as our cansries,
And mine should be gift of beads,
And bracelets should be Mary's.
"It must be Christmas Charles right
Because your present came
And when the box was opened wide
saw my fathers name,
"lIut wasn't that curious gift
To come from dear papa,
A sword and sash, cap and plume,
And epaulettes, mammal
"And such torn and trampled flag,
So old and bloody, too
don't see what papa could mean
BY sending such TO you
"And not single bead was there
And sister Mary's bands
Were quite forgot, and Charlie had
No gift from other londs.
"But what's the matter, dear mammal
What makes you shudier so!
wish you'd take me on your lap,
And let your darling know.
"And If it is Christmas eve,
And you are willing, quite,
Please tell me when papa will come,
And where he is tonight"
Quickly the fair.hairad child is claspeI
To that tumultuous breast,
And tears tha; would not flow before.
And sobs, too long rcpressei,
Break wildly from those iivil lips
And from those LUrning eyes,
Till the bright face they rain uron
Grows tender with surprise.
"My darling - thus her plain; be,Ins,
Aud falls, her grief before,
Despo'ine, Ike the Shortened waves,
Tha; cannot reach tic shore.
Again, grown stronger for the litc
That trohs up~a her breast,
She @oles prelude ou,, and leaves
To childish ken the rest.
Any darling this is Christmas eve--
Dear brother told ynu rish'--
But there will come no welcome voice
To greet us oil, tonight.
"A Pe'rl must 20 wi,hou, her beads,
.,l .,-...- Nf..,'- I,.l
viii fail her now--papn las gone
To such a f., n land"
"Wha' land, mamma beyond the sea,
Across TIE waters Wild,
To Florence, where Ae Iongri 90 GO 2"
"Noi there, MT there, my child -
al know mommn-hc'sg1na 10 see
His coun;ry's flag unLh
And sent that captured hannc, back,
Instead Of beads to Pearl
"But then, SO many things beside
don't quite understand
You cannot mean that dear papa
Is in the OTHER land!
ooh, poor mamma - and like n star
That drops from ont the rest,
The bright face hides among the folds
On that maternal breast.
Then, like star that parts the cloud,
Serenely, rs we gaze,
II breaks the mystery Of doutt;
The sweeler Tor the haze.
1t sparkles through, al thought you sal
Popa had gone so far!
But heaven, our pastor says. is where
Our best affections Ore.
"And If papa has gone TO heaven,
And that's 81 very near,
He's kept his promise, after all,
And surely must be here.
81 don't care anything at oil
About those coral beads,
And sister has all last years gifts
AS many as she needs.
"And Charlie shall have oil my looks
know he II make them do
For you are left TO us mamma,
And babys left to you.
"Then won't you smile on us again?
think God means it rght
And Christmas will be sweet, because
Papa is here to-nightp
A shiilless, romantic young fellow
borrowed five dollars from n lad,