The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-12-21

MAUD MULLER AND SANTA CLAUS.
WITH AN APOLOGY.
Maud Muller on winters day,
Fed the cows some bran and hay.
Sweet with pennyroyal and mint
The cattle were fed without stint,
With stuff that grew in fields about
They ate until their sides stuck out.
Inside her purse. glowed the wealth
Of cream she sold from cows she MIXED.
Singing, she MIXED, and her merry glee,
Brought up the cream as one could see.
But when she glanced way fromthe shining
pail,
The COW was sure to drop in it's tail.
She'd gently raise the end piece up,
Before twas turned to OK tail SOUP
A dish she didn't care to own,
They never cared for soup at home.
The evening shades were falling slow,
The lantern cast golden glow,
When a tingling of bells in the outside air,
Announced that Santa Claus was there.
Maud Muller, though merry maid,
Was somewhat timid and afraid.
The barn door opened with pump,
Its suddenness brought forth lump,
In Maudie's throat. She stood stone still,
But much against her wish and will.
She fain would run and hide away,
Meath fodder dry, or some mixed hay.
For Santa was there for sure,
The wind behind him slammed the door.
He asked for drink from yon stone crock,
That to the brim was filled up chock
Full of cream, so sweet and pure,
To obey his wish was her only cure.
She stopped before the pot of cream
And gently dipped therein her stein.
And blushed as she gave it, looking up,
AT Santa drenching down the cup.
Thanks" said he, "a sweeter draught,
From q fairer hand was never quaffed."
He spoke OF the holidays and other things,
That the season of the year so cheerily brings.
Then talked of going and wondered whether,
The cloud in the south would bring warm
weather.
He'd come in sleigh, but more safely he'd feel,
Could he borrow her fathersautomobile.
And Maud forgot the stockings with care,
That she'd hung in the chimney bare.
Says she, my papa, he hasn'tany,
But the neighbor 'cross-he's plenty"
He listened, while pleased surprise
Looked from his sparkling eyes
At last, after bidding her good night,
He whipped up his deer and took to flight.
Maud Muller looked and sighed
That she might be old Santa's bride.
He'd dress me up in turs so warm,
An take me long to, loot his horn.
Ny father, who labors hard in the field,
Should have garage and mobile.
An brother. he should have one all hisow
That he could go and always come
When ere he pleased. And sister 600,
Could have one it she wanted to.
I'd dress my mamma SO grand an gay,
Folks wouldn't know her when she'd 60 way.
I'd feed the hungry and clothe the poor.
They well might know what Xmas was for.
Old Santa looked back as he climbed the hill
The moon shown warm, the air was still.
"a form more fairl"-he became excited.
He lost his head. Maud's home he sighted
"Would she were mine and to-day,
Could drive with her, a trip away"
But he thought of the little ones and the trees
so green
That remained to be decorated where he had
not been.
So closing his heart he drove hastily on,
He had yet much to do before the dawn.
And up to the neighbours he dashed in style,
And requested the use OF the automobile.
But the farmer smiled in the light of the moon
"sorry, Santa. hut IN out of gasoline"
Old Nick suddenly thought OF Maud by the
crock.
He forgot her stockings, he drove hastily back
ADdstuffed them full of the richest Of things,
Diamonds set in gold and pearls on strings.
But the best of the gifts for Maudie to enjoy
Was years copy of the MIDLAND JoURsAL edited
by the Ewing boys.
He fam would linger. but he must CO.
Weather warm or cool, bare ground or snow.
So. making bow. up the chimney he few
And cracking his whip, he gracefully blew.
The smoke from his pipe in the moon beams
Into ringlets and circles. that family cleaned.
Maud in the barn heard the crack of the whip
And through a knot hole in door she peeped
And noticing old Santa drive of in hot haste.
She gave sigh of anxiousness clear down to the
waist
And dashing to the house as fast as limbs could
carry,
She hoped for gift, proposal to marry.
But when she spied the jewels and gems
Her heart went . throb. It'll she found the
midland
Her joy broke forth. it knew no bounds.
1t was the greatest thing that she had found.
Until one day in a Journal 'ad.''
Santa wanted wife. it read. right bad.
Among the thousands that replied
He chose one by the name OF Maud.