The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-12-29
sslstt poetrg
THE NIGHT BEFORE NEW YEAR /,
on. JACK FRosTs FRoLIc.

or, JACK FRosTs FRoLIC.
Twas the nightbefore New Year all Nature was siill
No sound broke the silence save roIlicking rim,
Which. eei from the dark prison caves OF the earth
Leaped laughing along IN IL audible miTsh.
The sentinel hills, Ia their mantles Of snow,
Kept watch o'er the valleys that snmhered bellows
whistle stars, wido.awake, were twinklingon high
As the moon IN her besuty serenely sailed BY.
Jack Frost, a young fellow luneommonly coolJ
Kept IN ali sheday. like bad bOyat school,
Determined that night tbreaking shackle and rulel
To 90 on frolic--ihe poor lissls fool
Hoar Frost, his old father, be s,outly deied,
Whilst his mother stood BY and icieles cried
In vain was Fenonstrance, oslippery chap
Could not be held longer, but donning his cap
With no word Of regret, not even sigh
He fslgldiy whisileda chilling Goodbye"
Through aelds and through forests he capered with
CLEO,
with spirits elaied, reioiced TO be free,
His footssep 50 Light as he slid over the snow,
No traces were left his passing to show.
BY The side Of tho road the streamlct he spled
He halted moment exclaimed. swo-be-tide"
Freezlng words the water was hushd, DER It's eyes
Gathered the flm Of It's approaching demise.
Then ii slept all listlessly chilled BY his BREATH
In snowy-white shroud lis mantle OF death.
To a farm house ha.hied, at double quick speed,
For Jack, not forgetting his innermAns need,
Ionged for the luxuries he knew there were stored
The tempting remains 81 the late Christmas board
He had nothing that night his hunger to stay,
save some hard ernsts ofsnow and water frappe
Cold conlor, for Jack, his need ofreviyd
Compelled him at once to announce his arrival.
He began at the gate. wide open. to slam Il,
Then round the house blew the Fohan gamnt
At the windows he qairrsd, at the dooc undismayed
He tried new kev In his wild serenade;
But finding mild means to enter unheeded,
To violent measures he forthwith proceeded.
Gathering his weapons, the fortress assailed
But, ,sarp.iy resisted he sgnally failed.
Again he underworld 70 batter the walls,
But what could he do with only snewballsi
BaHied bexidered, in fact dlled with disgust
Having nothing, alas to bite but the dust,
The siege he abandoned, but oh cunning Jack
stole quietly through an uniortided crack.
And what sight met him ON making his entry
ClandestiEely In the prodigal pantry
There were sweets there, and sours, and game hung
on high,
And various drinks from champagne 70 "oldry =
He tried the sutstantials, without knife or fork,
And tasted the wine, though he touched not cork.
Each jolly old demiohn drawn on al sight
Promptly honored Jacks draagAs with spirit that
night
So he Toasted his null, and. Shipcri5ag his glass,
lie softly went out through the unguarded pass.
Now to the chamber. where the little ones slept
Der firm clinging ivy Jack frOstIly erept
Binding the bending leaves in glittering chains.
As be wended his way to the ehidrens domains.
He peeped In the window, uneurtained and bare,
And gazed on three little ones slumbering there,
50 carefully covered 50 snug in their beds,
He only could sec their dear little heads
Little heads dreaming Of luyenfe joys,
ofgood aold ST. Mic" with his sleigh full oftoys,
ofthe night when the stockings were hopefully hung,
And bright Christmas morn brightest morn for the
young1
when they found them brim-fnll, mid shouting and
din
ofprcsents and proofs of how good they had been;
Then the Christmas tree. gorgeous how adiantly
bright
Oh this was their greatest their browning delight
How sweet was this picture Of innocent blissl
Could even Jack Frost look coldly on thisg
Oh no nj the scene he was melting; but stay
Twill never do Jack 10 be running away
SO he froze up his tears, and sat at his ease,
Coming over plan the children to please:
A happy thought struck him, he rose with shout
And broke long icicle OF from the spout
Some pictures IN trace with my pencil Office,
Grand views III portray Of frosty device.
SNOW gIittering glacier, and snow-eoyered hills
Were sketehed on the window with true artists skin
And miniature forests, with foliage Of frost
Ger grottoes ofice, with snow wreaths embossed.
Enough exclaimed Jack, to the life Norwegian,
For all die world like the polar bear region.
And now little dreamers, sleep on the while,
TIL morning shall wake you and give you a smile;
Your chubby hands then will clasp with delight
When you see how Jack Frost has been spending
the night.
He leaves you his views and In parting would pray
That your future joys be less fieeting than they.
Then weary he went to repose on the lawn,
To slumber awhile as he journeyed at dawn;
But never awakened till ''sol7 this great dread.l
Looked iercely down on him from high overhead.
Jack could not retreat, nor could he advance,
He only could sink meath his whitening glance
He feebly gasped out as he melted from view,
Happy New Year to all" and dissolved in Ia dewl
adieu. ADIEu.