We got up a Christmas-doin's Last Christmas Eve-- Kindo' dimonstration 'At I railly believe Give more satisfaction-- Take it up and down-- Than ary intertainment Ever come to town!
Railly was a _theater_-- That's what it was,-- But, bein' in the church, you know, We had a "_Santy Clause_"-- So 's to git the _old folks_ To patternize, you see, And _back_ the institootion up Kindo' _morally_.
Schoolteacher writ the thing-- (Was a friend o' mine), Got it out o' Longfeller's Pome "Evangeline"-- Er some'rs--'bout the _Purituns_--. _Anyway_, the part "_John Alden_" fell to _me_-- And learnt it all by heart!
Claircy was "_Percilly_"-- (Schoolteacher 'lowed Me and her could act them two Best of all the crowd)-- Then--blame ef he didn't Git her Pap, i jing!-- To take the part o' "_Santy Clause_," To wind up the thing.
Law! the fun o' practisun!-- Was a week er two Me and Claircy didn't have Nothin' else to do!-- Kep' us jes a-meetin' round, Kindo' here and there, Ever' night rehearsin'-like, And gaddin' ever'where!
Game was wo'th the candle, though!-- Christmas Eve at last Rolled around.--And 'tendance jes Couldn't been surpassed!-- Neighbors from the country Come from Clay and Rush-- Yes, and 'crost the county-line Clean from Puckerbrush!
Meetin'-house jes trimbled As "Old Santy" went Round amongst the childern, With their pepperment And sassafrac and wintergreen Candy, and "a ball O' popcorn," the preacher 'nounced, "Free fer each and all!"
Schoolteacher suddently Whispered in my ear,-- "Guess I got you:--_Christmas-gift_!-- _Christmas is here_!" I give _him_ a gold pen, And case to hold the thing,-- And _Claircy_ whispered "_Christmas-gift_!" And I give her a _ring_.
"And now," says I, "jes watch _me_-- Christmas-gift," says I, "_I'm_ a-goin' to git one-- '_Santy's_' comin' by!"-- Then I rech and grabbed him: And, as you'll infer, 'Course I got the old man's, And _he_ gimme _her_!
Reach your hand to me, my friend, With its heartiest caress-- Sometime there will come an end To its present faithfulness-- Sometime I may ask in vain For the touch of it again, When between us land or sea Holds it ever back from me.
Sometime I may need it so, Groping somewhere in the night, It will seem to me as though Just a touch, however light, Would make all the darkness day, And along some sunny way Lead me through an April-shower Of my tears to this fair hour.