The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-22

PAW PAW, MICHIGAN.
THE LITTLE FOLKS.

Ride With Santa Claus.
One snowy day little boy named Fred.
WITH bright, blue eyes, red cheeks and curly
head,
Was hopping around the room among his toys,
His new boots making :" lots OF Jolly noise,'
And he was singing: Christmas soon will come,
And Santa CLAUS will bring ball or DRUM"
His Kind old nurse smiled at his childish gloe,
And, taking him upon her aproned knee,
Sald: LET me tell you, Freddy, what I've heard
III any child watch, without q word,
And catch ST. Nick at work on Christmas day,
He's bound 10 take him riding IN his sleigh"
The blue eyes danced with wonder and delight
As Freddy quettioned " viii he come tonight"
And being answered Z" In day or two"
He trotted of to think what he should do;
And nurse, glad of the quiet, dozed again,
Unwilling Of the mischief set in train.
On Christmas eve the stockings all were hung
Around the chimney; Christmas hymns were sung
And then the little ones we're tucked IN bed,
And went TO seep-all but the monkey Fred;
His eyes open wide. and watchful Kept
Until quite certain that his brothers slept.
Then slipping from his bed, by slow degrees
He gained the hearthrug crawling on his knees,
And putting on his clothes in silent haste,
His skating-cap upon his head he placed,
And stretched himself close to the chimney wiue,
To watch for Santa Claus, and claim ride.
The time passed on. and soon Fred was aware
OF jingling sleigh bells in the upper air;
Filling the stockings with liberal hand;
Fred laughed with 10y and merrily he cried: -,
i've caught you, Kris; now let me have rider
No sooner said than done they seem to rise,
And found upon the roof. meath starry skies,
A sleigh packed full of toys and drawn by deer,
Who pranced and pawned TO see stranger near.
80 Now Jump in, Fred, and bundle up your knees, "
SAID Santa Claus " unless you want to freeze
Strange sights saw Fred upon that Christmas ride
aOm he lRuQhpd "A almost
The rich mans home was pleasant to behold,
stored well with every comfort bought by gold;
And Santa Claus while there seemed growing hot
In hunting something that those boys had not
Each warm sock Allied, Christmas tree was
decked.
Old Santa Claus saying: Soon twill all be
wrecked
With comic sorrow then away they sped
To where the wind was bowling round shed,
Aud snow drifting in the shaking door;
Fred meier had seen such Indebtedness befo re.
within, five children huddled in heap,
With tear-stained faces, shiyered in their sleep;
No stockings hung upon the chimney nall
No tree was there; but in broken pail
A spray Of ivy bore note which said:
=" Dear Santa Claus, please bring US all some
bread!"
A tear in Kris's eye found resting-place,
And Freddy's fist crept very near his face,
Till, reused TO action by this scene of woe,
He whispered to his leader, soft and low:
"Give them the toys and candy meant for me,
And let US dress them up Christmas tree"
Then Santa Claus gave him loving look,
And from the sleigh brought top, and ball, and
book,
And heaped the table with goodly load
OF Christmas cheer; the ruddy apples glowed,
A turkey plump upheld huge mince pie,
And in the fireplace wood was piled up high.
Fred's joy was great to see the leasing sight,
He gave a shout; when suddenly twas night
He was at home, and lying ON the door,
And nurse was coming in the open door
He sprang in bed and held his frightened breath,
While nurse said: Child! you'll surely catch
your DEATH"
No word spoke Fred of all that he had seen
Only mamma the wond rous tale could CLEAN;
And when he said: "Please let me give some toys
And candy to the Widow jenkins boys
She gave consent: while to herself she sighed
''Twere we'll If all with Santa Claus could ride"