The Book of Joyous Children | Page 9

ain't no "Old Kriss" anywhere!
An' Sis she alluz say they wuz?A' Old Kriss--an' she alluz does.?But ef they is a' Old Kriss, why,?When's Chris'mus, Ma she alluz cry?
This Chris'mus now, we live here in?Where Ma's rent's alluz due ag'in--?An' she "ist slaves"--I heerd her say?She did--ist them words thataway!
[Illustration]
An' th'other night, when all's so cold?An' stove's 'most out--our Ma she rolled?Us in th'old feather-bed an' said,?"To-morry's Chris'mus--go to bed,
"An' thank yer blessed stars fer this--?We don't 'spect nothin' from Old Kriss!"?An' cried, an' locked the door, an' prayed,?An' turned the lamp down.... An' I laid
There, thinkin' in the dark ag'in,?"Ef wuz Old Kriss, he can't git in,?'Cause ain't no chimbly here at all--?Ist old stovepipe stuck frue the wall!"
I sleeped nen.--An' wuz dreamin' some?When I waked up an' morning's come,--?Fer our Ma she wuz settin' square?Straight up in bed, a-readin' there
Some letter 'at she 'd read, an' quit,?An' nen hold like she's huggin' it.--?An' diamon' ear-rings she don't know?Wuz in her ears tel I say so--
An' wake the rest up. An' the sun?In frue the winder dazzle-un?Them eyes o' Sis's, wiv a sureEnough?gold chain Old Kriss bringed to 'er!
An' all of us git gold things!--Sis,?Though, say she know it "ain't Old Kriss--?He kissed her, so she waked an' saw?Him skite out--an' it wuz her Pa."

[Illustration: "ALONG THE BRINK OF WILD BROOK-WAY."]

A SONG OF SINGING
Sing! gangling lad, along the brink?Of wild brook-ways of shoal and deep,?Where killdees dip, and cattle drink,?And glinting little minnows leap!?Sing! slimpsy lass who trips above?And sets the foot-log quivering!?Sing! bittern, bumble-bee, and dove--?Sing! Sing! Sing!
Sing as you will, O singers all?Who sing because you want to sing!?Sing! peacock on the orchard wall,?Or tree-toad by the trickling spring!?Sing! every bird on every bough--?Sing! every living, loving thing--?Sing any song, and anyhow,?But Sing! Sing! Sing!

THE JAYBIRD
The Jaybird he's my favorite?Of all the birds they is!?I think he's quite a stylish sight?In that blue suit of his:?An' when he' lights an' shuts his wings,?His coat's a "cutaway"--?I guess it's only when he sings?You'd know he wuz a jay.
I like to watch him when he's lit?In top of any tree,?'Cause all birds git wite out of it?When he 'lights, an' they see?How proud he act', an' swell an' spread?His chest out more an' more,?An' raise the feathers on his head?Like it's cut pompadore!

[Illustration: "I LIKE TO WATCH HIM."]

A BEAR FAMILY
[Illustration]
Wunst, 'way West in Illinoise,?Wuz two Bears an' their two boys:?An' the two boys' names, you know,?Wuz--like ours is,--Jim an' Jo;?An' their parunts' names wuz same's,?All big grown-up people's names,--?Ist Miz Bear, the neighbers call?'Em, an' Mister Bear--'at's all.?Yes--an' Miz Bear scold him, too,?Ist like grown folks shouldn't do!
[Illustration]
Wuz a grea'-big river there,?An', 'crosst that, 's a mountain where?Old Bear said some day he'd go,?Ef she don't quit scoldin'so!?So, one day when he been down?The river, fishin', 'most to town,?An' come back 'thout no fish a-tall,?An' Jim an' Jo they run an' bawl?An' tell their ma their pa hain't fetch'?No fish,--she scold again an' ketch?Her old broom up an' biff him, too.--
[Illustration]
An' he ist cry, an' say, "Boo-hoo!?I told you what I 'd do some day'."?An' he ist turned an' runned away?To where's the grea'-big river there,?An' ist splunged in an' swum to where?The mountain's at, 'way th'other side,?An' clumbed up there. An' Miz Bear cried--?An' little Jo an' little Jim--?Ist like their ma--bofe cried fer him!--?But he clumbed on, clean out o' sight,?He wuz so mad!--An' served 'em right!
Nen--when the Bear got 'way on top?The mountain, he heerd somepin' flop?Its wings--an' somepin' else he heerd?A-rattlin'-like.--An' he wuz skeerd,?An' looked 'way up, an'--Mercy sake!--
[Illustration]
It wuz a' Eagul an' a SNAKE!?An'-sir! the Snake, he bite an' kill'?The Eagul, an' they bofe fall till?They strike the ground--k'spang-k'spat!--?Wite where the Bear wuz standin' at!?An' when here come the Snake at him,?The Bear he think o' little Jim?An' Jo, he did--an' their ma, too,--?All safe at home; an' he ist flew?Back down the mountain--an' could hear?The old Snake rattlin', sharp an' clear,?Wite clos't behind!--An' Bear he's so?All tired out, by time, you know,?He git down to the river there,?He know' he can't swim back to where?His folks is at. But ist wite nen?He see a boat an' six big men
[Illustration]
'At's been a-shootin' ducks: An' so?He skeerd them out the boat, you know,?An' ist jumped in--an' Snake he tried?To jump in, too, but failed outside?Where all the water wuz; an' so?The Bear grabs one the things you row?The boat wiv an' ist whacks the head?Of the old Snake an' kills him dead!--
An' when he's killed him dead, w'y, nen?The old Snake's drownded dead again!?Nen Bear set in the boat an' bowed?His back an' rowed--an' rowed--an' rowed--?Till he's safe home--so tired he can't?Do nothin' but lay there an' pant?An' tell his childern, "Bresh my coat!"?An' tell his wife, "Go chain my boat!"?An' they're so glad he's back,