Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-12-31
a CHRISTMAS BALLAD.
By MARY A. DESIsor.-

To put the Christmas treei
" Mamma wrote to Grandpa Martin
For a wen-grown pine or fir,
And he said he would serd a Martin box
Especially for her;
But he won't forget us children.
He never did at least:
only wish he could be here
To share in our Christmas feast.
s. We are al so very tusy
Getting our presents done;
You can't think what am making
OF all things under the suR-
mean for your special pleasure;
can tell you about the rest,
For Netty s1d Carry and Hatty
Are doing their very best.
" I've made an embroidered apron,
Ana tatted lovely set.
Worked a pair of elegant slippers
And a collar and cuffs for Metz
For papa yard-loDg watch chain
With beads Of gold and black;
And palr Of crimson wristers
And pretty blue neck-tie for Jack.
"You should see us girls together
After our lessons are over.
Up in the old-tine nursery,
Busy as bees in clover:
Busy with-needles nailers,
Talking md laughing and humming,
And building sach glorious castles
Against the time of your comming.
" There are 80 many sunts and cousins
And the tree is to be - fnei
And we always get something we visa for,
/ wonder what gifts will be mine?
1 almost think can guess, though,
For papa has measured the wall,
And perhaps il will be piano;
want that the most of all.
"Dont laugh at my funny grammar;
You know il is Christmas time,
And when I'm so Wild and happy
The sense runs away with the rhyme.
Netty longs for set of garnets,
And Het for watch and chain,
And Jack viii be quite delighted
With dainty rosewood cane.
sand Carry is almost certain
or furs, beautiful set.
I'm sure we ought TO be thankful
For anything that we get
So on Christmas eve you must be here,
For our tree will be loaded down,
And we look for glorious frolic
With cousins from city and town.
"I wish every soul the world over
Could be happy at Christmas time;
So with hss and good wishes
! clsse my letter in rhyme.
p. S.-Ne have made up ten dollars
To send 10 Widow Brown
A poor soul with three pretty children
Nhc lives far away down town."
90 The 1re il out, and the ashes
Are cold as my heart is cold l.;
hope my babies dreaming
As stitch fold after fold;
They talk of the happy Christmas
Dear Christ, oh teach me to bear
The sad, sad lot of the hopeless,
Thai my soul may not despair.
"Dear li;tle Ned and Harry
They wanted u ball and top;
Il saw such pretty ones, mamma!
Said Ned, in the fancy shop
Won't you get rs tree for Christmas?
II it's Just as small can be,
As snail ss my little finger,
Stit you must get US a tree
"Dear hearts and so near is the Christmas,
And toll SO hard for breadi
And Re who made holiday sunshine
Is lying lew with the dead;
I'll search for the rich mans gleanings,
The crumbs that fall heediessly,
And I'll weave q lktle gay garland
And call il a Christmas tree.
g And III hang IL fun of good wishes
But oh If had doll
For Bess, and top for Neddy.
And for Harry q bright. red ball
Alas : for the tears are falling,
This work is too costly by far,
The fash of a bitter tear-drop
Its wondrous sheen would mar
"'Tis for limbs SO daintiiy covered!
While my poor babies weep
When the cold gets under their patches,
And smile only when they sleep.
j wish could die tomorrow
And take my babies away,
We'd have such a Christmas in heaveni
Such glorious Christmas day.
But no: through the cold and hunger
We still must wearily plod,
We must think that others are happy,
And t-ust-if we can--ln Coo.
uric aI 20
letter how strange there should be
In all this wide city creature
To write a letter TO me
sDesr Lord Why here's money-ten dollars,
TEN dollars for Christmas signed frie nc
Ter dollars for gifts for the babies,
On. dariings ten dollars to spend.
Ana well have dinner for Christmas.
And shoes for the baby wee:
And Goals for the IRE, and bless them,
For my dariings Christmas tree.
@Oh, dear hearts so true AID tender!
wish you could see into mine,
And know that your sweet gift has kirdIed
love that Is almost divine
i wish L could thank you-yes, kneeling
Close at Jour very feet,
And my little ones ali beside me
Their innocent thanks to repeat
"You may whiten o cold ashes,
For I see in your midst fame
Kindied by some good Christian.
wish but knew the name.
You may cover the windows, o frost king!
You may sleep, my babies, in peace,
For ny heart is as warm the sunshine,
And my faith has found release
e From the cold, and the hate, and the terror,
Into the blessed light
And I wait with a new, sweet longing
For the coming Of Christmas night
Hearth and Homs.