Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-25
Santa Claus in Larrigans.

but he chopped like four machines.
He hada't word for no one, not ever
for ME and Mike.
And whenever we spoke or tried to joke
he srowled like Chessy tyke.
When Bill. the p. L.. fiddled, or Charley
CanIck would jig,
Dumphy would crawl to the dark o. TIE
wall and sog there like a pig.
Daytime ne chopped like fury-nighttime
=, he Rugged his bunk.
.-Physog a 5 long as boardin house arm
and chawln some bitter hunk.
And the deacon-seat crowd it wondered
for we sartiniy liked the lad,
But he wouldn't let out what il all was
about, though we saw he was havin
il had.
Sorne allowed he was homesick, while
others said twas wuss,
For Tote-team Jake had heard at the
lake that twas sort of a family fuss
If twas family fuss we were sorry-we
wondered how it began,
And this was because young Dumphy was
our only family man.
Now far,ily men, ! don't care VINO, be-
long at home with their broods,
No hearts will ache nor grieve for sake
of US lonesome old chaps o The
woods.
Here's good health TO We, family
Wherever we've built your nest;
we've more than your share of the
good things, but therei
We reckon it's all for the best.
There's an arm for your neck and a
kiss for your cheek
When there's trouble ahead or YOUR
courage is weak
And comfort and courage ard grit
you Will need,
With a wIfe and some younkers to
house and to feed
God bless you with patience and
peace and with goods,
Is the very best wish of us men o
the woods,
Us lonesome old baches of peavies
and patches,
Bills, Jimmies and Jacks, o the AK.
The cook he had hung a shoe-pac, tire
coOkee hung one, too,
And Iarrigan doe Il sock with q toe--the
only whole sock in the crew
Some ochers hung sleeves and leggn's-
the loss hung a rubber-boot,
Twas Christmas eve and We made be-
lieve! Jest the lark of a Christmas
tooti
We ha0E't a thought of presents-why
the most of us never had hung
A stockii' up at the chimney-side even
when we were young
1t was only a bit of foolin, and a part OF
our ev'nin' plan
Was a Sanity Claus, and Dumphy was
our only family man.
We dug him out of his blankets and
hauled him out to the light,
His eyes were red with tears he had
shed, but now he wanted to fight
Anu CitdIllilS d SlTIIlS Oh curses, ne
struck as he raved and swOre,
FloOred Joe Lacrosse and the swampin S
boss, and announced he was ready
for more.
But no che was specially anxious and
we backed away, because.
Good will to men was not jest then in the
eye OF our Sanity Claus.
The boss was thinkin' to swat him, but
allowed he had better not.
For twas trouble bad that Dumphy had
whatever it was he'd got.
So back in his bunk he butted-unsociabie
kintl of a goat
While our pryin' cook was takin' look
at letter that dropped from his
coat
There's sometimes a grief for ye,
And it's wicked ye'd better believe.
When we find that there's trouble
piled heavy and double,
On the poor little home that ye
There are sharks who are hungry
when money is due,
A1l a man is away in the woods
- with a crew;
Shiyern' babies and art-broken
Don't bender the shylocks who're
out with a knife.
And the tear-Spotted letter that COOK |
chOked ana read
Was writ from a poorhouse-and
baby was dead.
one AFTER the otner, we forty-flVe !
men,
Kissed where the kisses were marked |
by her pen.
Kissed on the smooches of little |
ones smackS,
We lonesome Old bacheS of pea |
vies and patches,
Bills, Jimmies and Jacks O. the AK. |
Boss he fair. square blubbered-cook he
blubbered. too. |
There wasn't face in all the place bu, |
Slistened with tears like dew.
And Joe throwed salley-west ard the buds |
the crew had hung,
For we knowed that joke to Dumphy |
spoke of empty stockins hung:
we all of us saw a pictur of youngsters
wonderin' why |
Old SANITY Claus, like other friends, had |
passed that poorholse by.
We looked to Dumphys corner, where he |
cuIled with buried head.
But his grief and tears stopped eyes AMI !
ears to all we did or said.
Dang rat the man that's secret" |
growied the boss, but others can
Be jest as clds' as that secret cuss, Our |
only family man.. |
Then boss he fetched a pen-StOck and |
thawed the yaller ink.
And he ratchity-scratched a writin ana |
he wunk 81 wettish wink;
He whispered, There's an order for thir |
t. days o my pay; |
If the rest of yes men yell take that pen |
and do stunt my way"
We fought to get that pen-stoch. and |
them as couldn't write
They had the boss attest their cross to |
make their writin' tight.
When all had made their papers, he |
stacked a regular dome.
Says he, Its done! Less rum and fun, |
but. boys, there lays HOME.'
Then ne clinched his fist and muttered |
as he TUNED to Long-geared Mike.
'Ycre Sanity Claus for us, because we've |
got the legs to hike.
Take SnoWShues to the carry, catch tote
teams to North Twin,
Then huff it again to strike the train |
and cash them orders in, |
Then stiVver it to the poorhouse where |
she has said they be
Ye're startin' NOW, and we don't allow |
for sleep nor Stop-offs-see. |
It's blame dark night, but ye're staTtin |
NOW, and if for any cause
Them babies cry termorrer night, Cave. |
help ye, Sanity Claus" !
Here's a good health to We. family |
man,
From tine depth of our hearts and |
the woods:
Boughs for our hunks and salt boss
in junks
And a very light load of worlds
goods.
Keep your neck near the arms and
your cheek near the kiss,
And never come here to the troubles
O. This.
God bless ye with plenty, and
strength to the arm
That shelters the wife and the babies
from harm.
We've tasted of life and we knox