New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-02
LITTLE JOHNTSS CHRISMCS.

James whitcomb Riley in The Christmas BOOK Buyeh
We got 1t up apurposc, tes' fer little JOINTS you
His mother was so pore and all, and had to manage
Jes' ben' war-widder and her pension mighty slim.
She'd take in weavin', er work out er anything Ter
him.
And little Joints was uny-likc-but law! the nerve
You'd want to kindo' pity him, but couldn't, very
His pants o. army blanket and HIS coat o. faded blue
KEEP hntin' OF his father like and ply wouldn't DO!
So we collogued together, onct, wntertlme, at
Jes' me and mother and the girls, and Wise John
Would jIne and get up little JOINTS by time AT Chris
Some soro' don's, don't you know, at would surprise
him some!
And So all on the quiet, mother she turns IN and giis
some blue ianescuts and makes suit and then sets
nair ~, little eslluses to 90 long with the rest
And puts In a red aannen-back, aud buckle on the
vest
The little fellerd ben so much around our house.
And ben such hep to her and ALL and handy as
AT mother couldn't do too much fer little Joints
She p fer 70 l'' declare at he was meat drink
And Plncy Lide and Madallne, they watched their
To Foun ainfoWn with Liiey's folks; and bought
O. fairy-ial with p.ctrs in and got little pair
o. rcd:top boots at John-Jack said he'd BEN apIicen
there.
And Iide got him little sword and Madaline'
And shoon'. crackers-lswzyday and they're so dan
And Pney, ever time the rest would buy some other
She'd take and turn in then and buy more candy fer
The boy
WE'LL thinks whcp they got back, your pocket
But little Joints was there hisse'f that afternoon.
Well oil of us KEEP mighty mum, tel got him away
BY tellin' him be shore and come morry-Chnsmus
Day
And fetch his mother long with him. And how he
The aeIds-his head, in the dusk les like streak
His comfort auttem as he run-snd old Tigc. don't
you know,
A-jumpin high fer rabbits and aplown' up the snow
1t must abc'n most ten that night afOFo we got TO
with 80 and John-Jack he'ppin' us; and Freeman
Ard "a on Nth the lantern while he trimmed
Chnsmustrce
Out Of a little scrub-oak top at suited to a IL
.lu night aloanp hoailn .nne' a-SAaiAin rouna
And SOld Kriss." with his whlskers of and fcehles
And reindeers, shaped like shavin'-hosso' at tho
A.stckn' down the chimbly with their heels out a.
The top
BY time at mother got me up twas plum daylight ana
The front yar full o. ncighbOrs. all aerOwdln round
With Johnfs's mother leadin; yes, and little Joints
hlssef, an, 49,. 49, a. -.
Set up on Frccman's shoulder. like Jug up on tho
she'll
OF course can't describe It when they all got In to
where 49,, -, A.. axtn,s
we'd CONFERRED up the Chrlsmusrec and all the ixins
there, ,,, .oa. ana
Fer all tho shouts o. aughture-clappin hands ana
clackn' jokes, a., o.,.,
Was heap O. 'kssln' goin on amongst tho women
folks -
Fer lo-bcholdyel there they had that youngun Ana
his chin $500,
Awobbn' like and shore enough. at last he started
In -,
And-sch another bellcrn', In all my mortal days
never hecrd, or 'spect 10 hear, in woes applntcd
ways
And mother grabs him up and says: "Its more'n ho
bear $500 ,
It's all too student fer the child and too suprsn' -
"oh, no it ain't.-sobbed little Johnts-"I amt
su'priscd-but I'm
A.cryn' cause / watched you all and knowed II al
tAs uNep