Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-12-20

I'll tend the kitchen while you're gone,
And keep things coy here"
"Indeed that's fair" said Mrs. CLAUS,
"'Tis very kind of you,
I'll go,-and mind, I'll make my way
Through every chimney f1ue."
The days rolled on; and Madame CLAUS,
With SANTA's help, from trunks and draw
Brought out the Christmas treasure:
Great, life-like dolls with haxen curls,
Adorned with silks and mimic pearls,
|. Red lips, and eyes of azure,
Gay cards, and books with gorgeous plates
Nuts, candies, raisins. figs and dates,
And toys boundiess store.
There, in the grand old Christmas hall
In SANTA'S house, the presents all
Lay scattered round like leaves in fall,
On tables, chairs, and floor.
Atlength 1t came That Christmas Eve
And in the hall prepared to leave,
Warm clad in dOwny wrappingS,
Stood Mrs. CLAUS, and SANTA, too,
Who on silver whistle blew,
When instantly wide open flew
Two folding doors; and bounding through
A snow-white reindeer came, who drew
A sledge, ablaze with gold and blue,
Bedecked with silver trappings.
Five roguish sprites,-a merry band
Come tripping out and take their stand,
Awaiting SANTA CLAUS command
To fill the fairy sleigh.
Then, at his word the nimble boys
Seize dolls and daintieS, books and toys,
And stow them snug away.
"Aha!" laughed SANTA, That's the geal
TO make the children jolly"
Then TO his wife he said: 'Step here,
We're ready for you, Polly.
The midnight hour is drawing near,
Ismell the Christmas holly.
Now mind your p's and q's, my dear,
And keep yourself from folly.
You'll find, in there, a silver horn
To blow, in case you need it;
And you, ye sprites, keep open ears,
And when you hear it. heed it!
Now kiss me, dear. and hasten on!
I'll keep the kitchen coZy.
Come back when o'er the eastern hills
The sky is growing rosy"
"I WILL" returned the worthy dame;
"And not a stocking leg
Throughout the land, shall empty hang
Upon its fireside peg.
Good bye, goodbye &c up. Snowflake
r Don't keep me ssaiting here.
The children sleep,
The Elfins keep
Their slumbers deep.
No oeye will peep
While glide down the chimney steep,
Nor have l aught to fear"
On sped the reindeer DER the snow;
The winds could hardly faster go.
On, on, till Madame shouted, "Whoa"
In front of PinewoOd Hall.
An instant, and his tiny hoof
Was clatt'ring on the slated roof;
Another instant, and he stopped
Beside chimney tall.
Then Madame CLAUS, with scarce n pause
From out her hoard of prizes,
Selects a host of wondrous toys
OF wondrouS shapes and sizes:
Enough to load the mantle-piece,
And cram each pendant stocking;
Then with smile she mounts the fiue,-
But ah, alas twas shockingi
For there. protruding, like the nest
OF some gigantic swallow,
great black falsehood slowed away,
Half filled the spacious hollow,
That story GERTRUDE MEANS had told,
Three weeks ago or more;
And NICK, the elf had captured it,
And placed 1t for door
Just at the opening of the flue,
To guard his boarded store
or "WOnt's," and "Cant's,"
And fretful "Shant's,"
Collected by the score.
Poor Mrs. CLAUS was quite perplexed
At this untoward dilemma;
And if she seemeda little veXed,
We surely can't condemn her.
swell declared" the dame begins,
"'Tis shameful in you, NICK,
To use the littlefolks' sins
To plaster upthe brlek.
All, could 1 oTly have the chance
To lay my hands on you,
I'd seize yOuby your wicked ears
And hurl you down the tiue"
"Indeed! And would you now?" saiC
NICK
Emerging intoview.
A wiry, niIuble, jaunty sprite,
Whose piercing eyes, so black and bright
| Shone through the darkness of the night
! With such 6 strange unearthly light,
| That Madame CLAUS Shrank back in fright
Exclaimilg, "Mercy me"'
ala ~ chu,kled NICK, in great delight,
you've changed your mind, see.
Well, dOntyou fret yourself, my friend,
| But tell me, what's your name?"
I'm Ms. CLAUS, Sir, if you please"
Replied the frightened dame.
"Ah, SANTA's wife. understand.
You'Ie going down below?"
"That's my intention. Sir; but then
| You've filled the chimney SO
| That I'm not sure of getting through,
If attempt to 60"
"But that's the children's fault" said NICK
Pm not to blame, you know"
"You are." said Mrs. SANTA CLAUS,
Whose cheeks began tC glow:
"But I'll notwaste my tiIne with you,
| I'm going down the fiue.
In spite of an your tricks can do,
III find a passage through"
Then with jump,
| She landed plump
Upon that awful whOpper;
| And stange to say,
Like yielding clay,
1t neither chanced to block her way,
Or for an instant stop her
To meet sad mishap:
Whenhaif way down. she tripped and fel
Upon a treach'rous trap,
Phced there by NICK
When truant Dick
FoIsook his school for play;
And filled with all the naughtineSs
Ofthat eventful day.
Strange beings fit before her eyes:
| Embodied thefts and mean white lies
Minute but all tormenting.
| Around her head they fly and shrek:
| Assault her ears with many a tweak,
So small y ct unrelenting.
In short. good SANTA's valiant wife
Was in peck of trouble.
Slv Fun and Mischief, saucy imps,
| Had best he,. glasses double;
Another still, called SelfiShness,
Had sfIa.ched away the Christmas gifts
And hid them in Granny.
And soon the dame begins TO choke;
For heavy clouds of noisome smoke
Come floating up the fiue.
Ahl Johnny, ah!
That first cigar
Issrnoking still for you;
Inst here n buzzing fills the place;
And ere the dame can wink,
Another troop comes pouring forth
From creyice. nook and chink.
rrtat, circle round poor PoLLY'S head
With many a wond'ring blink;
And ali as black as ink.
These are the angry thoughts and words
Of(;ERTRuDE, JOHN, and DICK.
Each holds within its tiny hand
A slender pointed stick,
And, in their flight, they now and then
lust give the dame prick.
All do YOU wonder, little folks,
That She is faint apd SICK?
At length. when all her cries are VAN,
She blows her silver horn F.
And 10 the chimney nue IS cleared,
a