Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-12-25
SANTA Js'S MISTAKE.

There lived in this ,od city on CO a man OF
eighty-seyen,
Brimful OF gouty aches and pains, just ripe for
death and Heaven;
And as it was good Christmas Eve he thought
he'd try his luce
By hanging up his stocking, for be still loved
fun and pluck.
Next door to him q maiden live d, lovely
charming miss
She had but sixteen summers seen, was full OF
life and bliss;
Her eyes. her cheeks. her hands, her face-well
they were just perfection
And she hung up her stocking too, with bright
and gay reflec:io1.
On Christmas morn that aged man his stock
ing full lie found
With plenty more OF other things pinned up
and nailed arouui.
He wiped his specs rive hundred times, his
laughter turned - screaming,
On opening such queer packages he thought
he must be dreaming.
eighteen wells,
A gross of gloves. mia" bonnets gay. case to
shine the nails,
and seaskin sach.
Two paraso.s q dozen fans and slippers white
and black.
Four pairs OF corsets oh. what shape !-long
hose of open stitching,
Three diamond rings ;.7o ruby rings and curls
of hair bewitchng,
Two sets of bangles, ei- rings eight. perfumes
a gross or more,
Ten pounds of candy, poodle dog and other
things score.
The old man wiped his specs again. Said he:
'''Tis mighty que
That L should get such funny things, and so
near my bier.
am .afraid-1 am afraid-Im very sure this
year.
That Santa Claus IS heen getting drunk on
whissey Or on bee
On Christmas morn the lassiegay her stocking
full she found.
With plenty more of curious things pinned ap
and nailed aro> nj.
She wiped her eyes five hundred times she
thought she must he dreaming,
Each package was very queer; at last she
fell to screaming.
One pair of spectacles OF gold, two gles.gray
and blue,
One golden box. three pounds of snuff,six pipes
all bright and new,
Five pairs of socks of woolen blue, three night
caps, foot bath, to,.
Suspenders four, two satin stocks, hair dye oi
blackes hue,
Pajam as two, three morning gowns. six razors
sharp and bright.
With brush and cup and shaving cream, one
crutch both strong and light,
Six canes. suit of nice, warm clothes just
suited for dandy.
a prayer-book with the largest type, one bo T.
tie of old brandy.
The lossie wiped her eyas again. Said she
"'Tis mighty queer
That should get such funny things, and In
my sixteenth year.
am afraid that Santa Claus has got a wee bii
crazy,
To leave for me such useless things, and 9
little daisy
When Santa Claus had left that night and
found out his mistake
He laughed, he laughed. he laughed SO hard
you'd thought his teart would break,
He laughed, he shook, he shook. he laughed
more stockings were to fill
He laughed SO hard, ne SnooR SO naro, IL al
most made him i'll.
On Christmas day at dinner time. old Santa
sought the city,
And changed the things from house to house
laughed danced and sang ditty.
And when the Christmas dinner o'er the ole
man sought his room,
The phantom change perplexed his mind will
10y and awe and gloom.
And when the Christmss dinner o'er, the lassi'
| sought her room,
| No pack of fire crackers e'er created such {
boom.
She laughed. she cried and flew about jumped
high upon a stool.
And said ut Is not Christmas Day it mus
be April Fool -
Now when the old man thinks of 1T, hi
thoughts are very hazy.
| He hardly knows just what to think, whil
sure he was not crazy.
And when the lassie thinks OF 1t, her thoughts
| are very may;
She hardly knows just what to say-the prett!
little daisy.
| --Harper's Magazine.
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