The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-12-22
Santa Claus Expedieut.
BY MRS. q. n, CLARK.

Twas bright. frosty eve. near the last G
December,
And the moon man was out, If rightly re
member.
Old Santa Claus stood in the door OF his snoT
Lined with wonderful things. from q doll to
top;
With puzzled look in his twinkling eye.
He scanned the bare earth and cloudless sk)
Dame Nature was dressed in russell brown
She had quite forgotten her snowy gown.
The sleigh and the reindeer all seemed TO say
awe belong TO the past; we have had on
day"
But the Jolly old saint only whistled tho NOR,
As he buttoned his coat and stepped from tn
door,
While his plump little wife In wonderful
frill,
Peeped cheerily out, like tho soul Of goo'
will.
"Oh, Santa!" she said, rejecting his thought
SIS all our years labor to go forth for nauEht
rs there no way to reach those dear girls am
boys? M, 49,.
OF lost joys?"
Then happy thought struck the jolly old
mot one waiting watt. younsster shall breathe
complaint"
I'VE can send some, my dear, by kind Uncle
SAM
twill be such joke all the mail-bags to Gram
"Then there is what they call the Lightning
express.
Il can Oiitrun the fieetest wild deer. I cohfeSs
And five fall short Of pictures and toys
dor there's scores and millions OF good glrs
and boys,
1--WE can telegraph on to town that know
Old Gotham by name, where they're not very
slow"
Then he laughed till the tears quite blinded
And then dolls and the Jumping Jacks danced
with delight,
Dame Santa Claus shook her wiso head in
dismay.
"Tls a pity, my dear, but there's no other way
II know times have changed, and tho chin
Are choked up with stovepipes ana FURNACES
queer;
"And the RENDERS so feet are cast In the
by the great fiery steed some inventive soul
made;
"while the stockings, once hung with such
care,
Are not found by the mantel. or. indeed any
where.
The good od-,imc customs are linked with
the past;
We are growing old fogies, I fear very fast
Now, don't take to grumbling," said Santa
That, living away in this Northern cIimc
here,
1--WE are apt to forget that the world moves
along,
And old ways will follow, so let's speed them
with song
"The children viii love us. progress IA they
will,
Their hearts cling to Christmas and Santa
Claus still.
.'rhcn three cheers for the good times the
Thank God for the Christ child with love
that Is true.
ring out merry bells, your mcrriest song.
Ring peace and good Will to all the grca'
throng.
"Give jov to the Borrowing, hope to tho sad,
Rest to the toilworn, make every heart glad
This day of MI others, should tcom with de
A glimpse of the sunshine that follows iIfcs
night
"I.ct charity reign In that great heart of love
TIL life Is illumincd with peace from above.
"Chime again and again. oh glad Christmas
bells;
TIL the fountain OF Joy In every hcartdWehs.
Then Santa Claus mounts his ticctcst reindeer,
With pack on his back and II "GoCd-byc, my
dear
He flew like the wind over mountain and
pain,
And scattered his gifts for the dnrlings like
rain.
Then go and do likewise, IA far IA ye may,
For where there's IL will there is ever way.
Re liberal; always this lesson believe.
IT'S truly more blessed to give than receive.