The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-25


Three children look through the frosty
pane
Of a dingy attic at the snow
And the merry bustling scene below.
Full of interest the children gaze,
But sad, recalling those better days
When they kept Christmas as others do,
When they had turkey and pudding too !;
Hung up their stockings and got their
toys
Like other little girls and boys.
But all is changed-"Now fathers dead,
She can't afford it, mother said;
We can't keep Christmas now" they cry,
Watching the shoppers with a sigh
But, after little, the eyes grow bright,
For Christmas Eve is charming sight
And Robby gaily turns about,
Come on children, let's go out
Pm most sure mother d let us go,
And it's just splendid in the snow"
Said Sue, Lets look in the shops, and
play
We're choosing presents tor Christmas
day;
Play we are rich-oh! let's pretend
We've got a million cents to spend!
Then forth they scamper, one and all;
Sue catches up her old plaid shawl,
Pins it about her head, and so
Run laughing forth into the snow.
The brothers take their old worn caps,
And, not possessing other wraps,
Draw down the sides across their ears,
And each in walking trim appears.
All! blest are childhood's hours to such !!
Beneath imagination's touch
The world grows bright, they cease to
grieve,
And keep with smiles their Christmas Eve !!
We've got a million cents" they cry;
Come, let us see what we will buy"
II think III buy DOLL" says Sue,
with curling hair, and eyes Of blue,
With earrings on, and shoes, and, yes,
think she'll have a spangled dress,
Like that doll there" The children stop
At the bright windows of shop,
That, to the eager, dazzled eyes,
Shine bright and fair as paradise.
Look, Bobby, look!" "See there, oh,
see!"
Look. Sue that's just the thing for me- -
Look at old Santa Claus see, Ned
See that big horse, that splendid sled"
Of wondrous toys there seems no end,
'Tis lucky they've so much to spend.
They gaze, and choose, unmindful they
OF other steps that come that way,
Of other three, that, in their walk,
Pause, listening to their guilelesst talk
Three sweet, mysterious little elves,
Laughing and whispering 'mong them
selves,
With tall sprite that's smiling down
Upon all six, with eyes of brown.
One speaking low says, "Sister, please,
Do let US give our gifts to these.
They're awful poor-it's all in play
They're choosing things for Christmas
Day.
They can't buy, really, what they choose.
Look at their clothes, and old torn shoes,
May begin?" Then from behind
A hand steals forth Bob's hand to find,
A voice says, Here, this is for you,
This box of soldiers" And little Sue
Feels something thrust into her hand,
With words she cannot understand:
This little doll hope you'll take;
| bought it for dear Willies sake"
While Ned can only stand and stare,
AS small elf, with floating hair,
Lay in his hand his heart 8 desire
Pistol and paper caps to fire
And the tai! fairy with brown eyes
Bestows on each a fresh surprise,
Candies and cakes. and horns to blow
AS they rnsh homeward through the
| snow.
Home to toe attic mean and bare,
Home to the mother, worn with care,
i Al Ia. - h,,...
And waits her little ones return.
She has been shopping, too, but small,
Is her little purse to keep them all.
Rent and fuel and bread and meat
Leave nothing there for a Christmas
treat;
And sad she sits in that little room,
But the children's mirth dispels its
gloom,
As they come screaming with delight,
Mother, there are fairies out tonight.
Look what they gave u.s." Mother, see
One fairy gave this doll to me-"
Look at my soldier-these are mine"
How little Bobby's eyes do shine.
II like my pistol best" cries Ned,
Look out, I'll shoot your soldiers dead. VI
And here are candies, nuts and cake,
lust hear the noise our horns can make,
Christmas is jolly now," they shout,
"Now that the fairies are about"
And mother, putting by her grief,
Smiles at the innocent belief,
rejoicing in their pure delight,
At what the fairies brought tonight. v
But well she knows that from above,
At Christmas, the good spirit, Love,
Flies round our world on magic wings,
Prompting us all to nobler things,
Till human hearts with kindness thrill
With peace on earth, to men good will,
Till we supply our brothers needs,
| And human hands do fairy deeds.
And up in heaven! All who shall say
How little Will kept Christmas day?
We are too blind to judge Alright
That higher life, beyond our sight.
Its blest employ we cannot tell;
| We only know that "all is well.
Aye we'll with those who pass beyond
Our Christmas greetings, close and fond
And while we mourn the vacant place,
Yearu for the dear, familiar face,
The clinging hands, the music sweet
Of prattling voice and pattering feet.
Though God forbid we should forget
Their Joy illumines our regret.
They are not dead, but gone before.
Death, unto such, is bnt door
Opened to let the children in
To life unmarried bv pain or sin.
And when, at Christmas, to the skies