The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-12-25
A RIDE WITH SANTA CLAUS.

Ono snowy day q little boy named Fred.
With BRIGHT blue eyes red cheeks and curly head,
- t4lS tloAta -
ana be was singing: q Christmas soon WIN come,
And santa Claus viii bring bail or drum
His kind old nurse smiled at his childish glee,
And, taking him upon her aprOned knee
s1ld . Let me tell you, Freddy, what I've heard;
If any child VIII watch, without a word,
And catch ST. Nick at work Christmas day
Hes bound to take them riding on ais sleigh '"f
The blue eyes danced with wonder and delight
As Freddy questioned t'Nil he come tonight 2"
And being answered 81 IN & day OF two"
He trotted of to think what he should do;
Aud nurse, glad Of the quiet, dozed agaib,
Unwilling Of the mischief set in train.
On Christmas eve the stockings ali were hung
Around the chimney; Christmas hymns were sung;
And then the little ones we're tucked in bed,
And went to sieep-ai but the monkey Fred;
His eyes were open wide, and watchful kept
OntA quite certain that his brother slept.
Then slipping from mis- bed, by slow degrees
He gained the hearthrug: crashing on his knees,
And putting on his clothes in silent haste,
bis skatins-cap upon his head he placed, e.
and stretched himself close to the chimney wide,
To watch for Santa Claus, and claim ride
The time passed on, and soon Fred was aware
OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in the upper air
Inen close behind him old Kriss seemed to stand,
Filling the stockings with a liberal hand
Fred laughed with JOY, and nerriIy he cried:
I've caught youI hriss now Let ne have ride y
no sooner said than done; they seemed to rise,
And found upon the roof, meath starry skies,
sleigh packed full OF toys, and drawn by deer,
Who pfanced and paved to see a stranger near.
s Now jump in, Fred, and bundle up your knees, 5"
said Santa Claus q unless you want to freeze"
Strange sights saw Fred upon that Christmas ride
At sone he laughed, at some he almost cried
The rich mans home was pleasant to behold.
Stored well with every comfort bought by gold;
And Santa Clans while there seemed growing hot,
In hunting something that those boys had nOti
rsool, ,--,,-r, .y,4- 4i57 a ry,,-;,+,s t W..
Old Santa Claus saying " Soon twill all be
wrecked"
/ With comic sorrow; then away they sped -
/ To where TIE wind was bowling round a shed,
| Aud snow was drifting in the shaking door;
Fred neer had seen such Indebtedness before.
Within, i've chiIilren hudaled in a heap -
With teer-stained faces, shivered IA their sleep;
I No tree was there; but in a broken pail
/ A spray Of ivy bore note which said
| . Dear santa Claus, please bring US all some
I a tear IN Krfss, eve found restfpe-plsce. %
And Freddys fist crept very nesF his face, e -f-s
Till, reused to action by this scene Of woe,
II BE whispered to his leader, soft and low:
!! % Give them the toys and candy meant. for me,
And let us dress them up a Christmas treeP -s
j Ifisn Santa o3ausFave him allowing iopls, sz--e
And from from the sleigh brought top, and ban, and
And heaped the table with q poodly load $3.50
" Christmas cheer; the rudy apples zloWed,-~-
= a turkey plump upheld huge mincs-pie,
And iIfthe freplaee wood was niled1I nigh. q %
Fred's joy was great to see the pleasant sight,,
BE Ravea shout when suddenly twas night
n He was at home, and lying on the AoOr, W. j..
And nurse was coming in the open door
Re sprang in bed and held his frightened breath.
While nurse said: "Child you'n surely catch you
death 7"
No word from Fred OF all that he had seen
Only mamma the wond rOus tan could CLEAN;
And when he said: % Please let give some toy
And candy to the widow Jenkins bOys,1
She gave consent; while to herself she sighed
g 'Twere well if AL with Santa Claus could ride