A Defective Santa Claus | Page 3

down _k'thump_!--?Nen some one squonkin' the old pump--?An' _Wooh!_ how cold it soun' out there!?I could ist _see_ the pump-spout where
It's got ice chin-whiskers all wet?An' drippy--An' I see it yet!?An' nen, seem-like, I hear some mens?A-talkin' out there by the fence,?An' one says, "Oh, 'bout twelve o'clock!"?"Nen," 'nother'n says, "Here's to you, Doc!--?_God bless us ever' one_!" An' nen?I heerd the old pump squonk again.?An' nen I say my prayer all through?Like Uncle Sidney learn' me to,--?"O Father mine, e'en as Thine own,?This child looks up to Thee alone:
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Asleep or waking, give him still?His Elder Brother's wish and will."?An' that's the last I know.... Till Ma?She's callin' us--an' so is _Pa_,--
He holler "_Chris'mus-gif'_!" an' say,--?"I'm got back home fer Chris'mus-Day!--?An' Uncle Sid's here, too--an' he?Is nibblin' 'roun' yer Chris'mus-Tree!"?Nen _Uncle_ holler, "I suppose?Yer Pa's so proud he's froze his nose?He wants to turn it up at us,?'Cause _Santy_ kick' up such a fuss--?Tetchin' hisse'f off same as ef?He wuz his own fireworks hisse'f!"
An' when we're down-stairs,--shore enough,?Pa's nose _is_ froze an' salve an' stuff
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
All on it--an' one hand's froze, too,?An' got a old yarn red-and-blue?Mitt on it--"An' he's froze some more?Acrost his chist, an' kindo' sore
All roun' his _dy_-fram," Uncle say.--?"But Pa he'd ort a-seen the way?_Santy_ bear up last night when thatAir?fire break out, an' quicker'n _scat_?He's all a-blazin', an' them-'air?Gun-cotton whiskers that he wear?Ist _flashin'_!--till I burn a hole?In the snow with him, and he roll?The front-yard dry as Chris'mus jokes?Old parents plays on little folks!?But, long's a smell o' tow er wool,?I kep' him rollin' _beautiful_!--
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Till I wuz _shore_ I _shorely_ see?He's _squenched_! W'y, hadn't b'en fer _me_,?That old man might a-burnt clear down?Clean--plum'--level with the groun'!"
Nen Ma say, "_There_, Sid; that'll do!--?Breakfast is ready--_Chris'mus_, too.--?Your voice 'ud soun' best, sayin' _Grace_--?Say it." An' Uncle bow' his face?An' say so long a _Blessing_ nen,?Trip bark' _two_ times 'fore it's "A-men!"
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
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