The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-01-01
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THE NIGHT BEFORE NEW YEAR
or, JACK FRoST's REVENGE.

or, JACK FRosTs REVENGE.
Twas the night before New Year, all Nature was
still,
No sound broke the silence save rollickng rill,
Which freed from the dark prison ofthe earth,
Leaped laughing along in its audible nirth.
The sentinel hills, in their mantes Of snow,
Kept watch o'cr the valleys that slumbered below;
Whilst the stars wide awake, were twinkling on
high
As the moon in her beauty serenely sailed by.
Jack Frost, young fellow (uncommonly cool)
Kept in all the day, like bad boy at school,
Determined that night breaking shackle and rulc0
Togo on frolic-the poor little fool!
Hoar Frost his old father, he stoutly defed,
Whilst his mother stood by and cicles cried:
In vain was remonstrance so slippery chap
Could not be held longer but donning his cap,
With no word of regret, not even sigh,
He frigidly whistled chilling Goodbye"
Through fields and through forests he capercd with
glee,
With spirits elated, rejoced to be free,
His footstep so light, he slid over the snow
No traces were left his passing to show.
BY the side of the road the sreamlet he spied;
He halted moment, exclaimed, "Wo-be tde!'
Freezing words! the water hush d, DER its eyes
Gathered the film of its approaching demise
Then it slept all listlessy, chilled by his breath,
In a snowy-white shroud, its mantle of death.
To farm house he hied, at double quick speed,
For Jack, not forgetting his inner man S need,
Longed for the luxuries he knew there were sUored
The tempting remains of the late Christmas board
He had nothing that night his hunger to stay,
Save hard crusts of snow and water trappe
Cold comfort for Jack, his need of revival
Compelled him at once to announce his arrival
He began at the gate, wide open, to slam it,
Then round the house blew the Fohan gamut.
At the windows he quivcrcd, at the door undis-
mayed
lie tried a new key i'll his wild serenade;
But finding mild means to enter UNDECIDED,
To violent measures he forthwith proceeded.
Gathering his weapons, the fortress assailed
But, warmly resisted, he signally failed.
Again he endeavored to batter the walls,
But what could he do with only snOwballs?
Bafiled bewildered, in fact filled with disgust
Having nothing, alas! to bite but the dust
The siege he abandoned, but oh! cunning Jack
stole quietly through an unfortilcd crack.
And what a sight met him on making his entry
Clandcstnely in the prodigal pantry!
There were sweets there and sours, and game huns
on high,
And various drinks from champagne to "old rye
He tried the sIbstantials, without knife or fork,
And tasted the wine though he touched not cork
Promptly honorcd Jacks draughts with spirit tina
night.
so he toasted his full and shiverng the glass,
He softly went ont through the unguarded pass.
Now to the chamber, where the little ones slept,
DER firm clinging ivy Jack frostily crcpt
Binding the leaves in glittering chains,
As he wendell his way to the childrens domains
lie pceped in the window uncurtained ana bare,
And gazed on three little ones slumbering there,
So carefully covered so snug i'll their beds
lie only could see their dear little heads
I.ittle heads dreaming of Juvenile joys
OF good "Old St. Me" with his sleigh full of toys
of the night when the stockings were hopeful
hung,
And bright Christmas morn brightest morn for III
youngD
When they found them brm-full. midShontihS an
din
OfpreSents and proofs of how good they had been
Then the Christmas tree, how radianty bright!
OH this was their greatest their browning delight,
How sweet was the picture of innocent bliss!
Could cen Jack Frost look coldly on ihisF
oh no! at the scene he was melting; but stay
Twill never do Jack to be running away
80 he frozc up his tears, and sat at his case
Coming overl plan the children to please
happy thought struck him, he rose with a shout
And broke long cicle off from the spout
Some pictures I'll trace with my pencil Office,
Grand views I'll portray of frosty device
snow gliItering glacier and snow-covered hills
Were sketchcd on the window with true artist
skill,
DER grottocs of ice, with snow wrcathS embossed
Enough exclaimed Jack, to the life Norwegian,
For all the world like the polar bear region.
And now little drcumcrs, sleep on the while
Till 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 spendingtl
night.
He leaves you his views, and i'll parting would prn
That your future joys bcless tccting than they.
Then weary he went to rcpOse on the lawn.
Toslumbcr awhile Gs he jouneyed at dawn;
Butuevcr awakened till sol" (hs great dIead)
Looked lierccly down on him from high overhead
Jack could not retreat, nor could he advance,
He could on ~ sink meath his whitening glance,
He feebly gasped out as he melted from view,
Happy New Year to ALL and dissolved in "a dev
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