Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-12-06
CHRISTMAS EVE sNow-FLAKEs.

Cne Christmas Eve, as Deacon Brown
Was horeward going from the town,
A snow flake fell upon his nose.
Said he: Well. declared it snowsi
If it will only snow all night,
Twill give the children such delight
Ali yes, they'll think it's jolly fun;
But there is many shivering one
VIII not be glad the snow to see.
How many poor there are! All, mel
Now there is poor old Widow Burr;
1 ought to have remembered her
And tried to manage in some way
To make her happy Christmas Day.
I'll do it yell I'll send some coal
Tomorrow morning-yes, indeed
And other things that she may need.n
And onward, cheerily, he went,
His heart aglow with good intent.
Just at that time another flake,
As big and cold and wide awake,
Fell plumb on Farmer buttons eye,
As he was looking at the sky,
To find what might the prospect be
Of clear Christmas Day. Cried he:
"As slAe's live, it's going to saow
Don't kncw as it's much matter, though.
The fowls are com'table. l guess.
They're well penned in. and confess
There hain't nobody round here got
A bigger nor finer lot
OF fowls than l. And Neighbor Glenn
Don't b'lieve he's got even a hen
For Christmas dinner, they're so poor.
Now 'twouldnt hurt me, to be sure,
To take turkey ever there,
And chicken, too, or p'raps pair.
Ireckon moren likely 'twould
Do all of 'em power Of good.
I'll do it, sure's l live,n said he;
"One merry Christmas they shall seer
And off he went, with eager viii,
His kindly purpose to fu' fill.
Another frosty snowflake fell
Upon the hand of bright-eyed Nell,
As she was pas ing out the doors
Of one of the bright, crowded stores.
"Ah. snow!" said she ''Weu, let it snow
I've not much further now to go.n
Into her muf her hand she slipped,
And, as she onward gayly tripped,
She thought; How nice muff to hold
And keep ones hands from snow and cold;
There's Cousin Minnie-she has none
Uncle's 100 poor to get her one.
Iwish she had nice things like me-
Why, I declared Just let me seel
Why couli not buy her a muff ?
I think I've money left enough.
I'll buy it now, this very night,
And send it round at morning light,
Before she's fairly out of bed"
And on her errand kind she sped.
While boot-black Jimmie stopped to hear
Some Christmas carols, on his ear
A snowflake fell. Cried he: ''Helloa
Hurrah Hurrah It's going to snow
Itell yer that'll be jus6 gay.
But there's Poor little sister May
A lynn there so sick in bed
She can't so much as lift her head:
She couldn't see if it did snow
Too bad She alters loved it SO.
Look here know jes what I'll do.
As soon as that there singin's through
I'll take that bit of ev'green tree
Here in the street right home with me
An fix it up somewhere real straight;
An don't l hope twill snow first-rate
All night, an cover it with snow!
AM won't it please her mighty, though,
To see me fetchin' Of it in.
Twill make her chirker than she's been
Since she's was took An declare,
guess I've got some cash to spare,
To buy somethin' uncommon sweet,
An temptin' like, for her to eat
An she shall have Christmas too,
The same as other peoples do"
So when he'd heard the singing out,
His loving plans he went about.
But oh ! 'twould take a week to tell
The good the snow flakes, as they fell,
Did all unconsciously achieve
Upon that merry Christmas Eve
What suffering ones they brought to mind
What hearts they moved with impulse kind
What chains of selfishness they broke,
What Christ-like charity they woke.
What tender thoughts they multiplied,
What close shut purses opened wide;
And hearts there were that never knew
How much the snow-fiakes had to do
With their unwonteed happiness.
Such power have little things to bless