The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-12-20
THE LITTLE FOLKS.


Come, W1lhel I wouldn't be toasting
My shins at the fire all night,
When the snow is 30 splendid for coasting,
And the full moon is shining SO bright.
wouldn't be such young napper,
For anything under the sun.
Come on with your fur cap and wrapper!
We are sure to have capital fun.
" Dobb's Hill is the place You must hurry
The boys all are out in the snow!
And ted your mamma not to worry;
Wen be back by 10-as you know"
so Willie got up and bestirred him;
But David had gone ere he woke.
Said Willie: {. certainly heard him
Yes, surely, twas David that spoke"
Then off Willie started to find him,
With his cap, and his mttens, ana sled.
" Stop, David ~ he shouted behind him;
But David heard nothing he said.
" He's gone to Dobb's Hill, where the coasting
Is best-for the hills very high;
And David has always been boastiug
He could run his sled farther than I ~
Then up to Dobb's Hill Willie foundered
But 10 ! not boy to be seen
And he stood in the snow there, and pondered,
And wondered what David could mean.
Twas almost as clear as the moonlight
The trees lowered tail overhead;
He stood in the silence and moonlight,
And mournfully looked at his sled.
I'd better go back. then, said Willie;
.' There's little fun coasting alone.
But then, ii seems stupid and silly
Not having come fun of my own
Now while he took time for deciding,
And this way aud that turned his head
He saw q small figure come riding
Straight up the hillside, on sled.
" Ho David y cried Will, '.you'ye been hiding;
But this is as strange dream
For how in the world you riding
Up hill without horses or steam?'
But never al answer got Willie
The figure sat still gnome;
He began to feel solemn and chilly,
And wished he had never left home,
But slowly and slowly tie figure
Moved up DER the snow and the ice;
Then suddenly seemed to grow bigger,
And Ieapt from his sled in trice.
Come Willie ~ he cried, "we1 together
Coast down on my sled to the lake;
There was never such glorious weather
For journey like that we shall take"
But you are not David = said Willie;
With strangers like you III not go.'
Said the man: g You must go, wiily-niIly,
For am your uncle, you know
Your uncle. Cldwallader Biornson.
From Lapland. 1t can't be denied:
Your mothers half-brother, Luke johnson,
Was mine-on your grandmother's side.
al was coming this evening to see you;
But am glad that met you just here.
wasn't quite sure 1t could BE- you,
Until could see you quite near.
ats wonderful sled that 1 carry
Twill take you wherever you will;
So get on behind me-don'I tarry;
Wen take such ride down the hill!'
Here he loosened his cap and his wrappers
And showed him an honest old face.
What pity he told him such Wrappers,
And talked with SO winning grace
For Willie was coaxed to believe him
He was sure such twinkling eye
Could never betray deceive him,
And yet he could hardly tell why.
He looks like old Santa Claus. cIearlyi
Perhaps he will take me to
Where he keeps all the toys that he yearly
Hangs up on the Christnas-tree ~
So off in the moonlight they started
% His uncle" before, he behind
And Willie was gay and ight-hearted
As down ward they few like the wind.
Faster and faster and fasteri
Far down on their slippery track;
And Will he stuck like plaster
Behind the old gentleman's back.
But soon it grew colder and colder,
No end to the hill anywhere,
And he saw DER the Laplander's shoulder
That they seemed to be flying through air.
And around them the stars were all flashing
Auroras waved wild overhead,
Till at last came terrible crashing
That shook him all over with dread.
And a blue flying meteor shot by him
He shrank from the glare and the heat
For 1t famed and it Numbered nigh him,
He started and fell from his seat
He fell from his seat-and it woke him
Stll there by the fire, it would seenI
And David IriH tease hun and Joke him
Because he once told him his dream
&C. r. Crdnch, in 81. Nicholas.