Poor Santa Claus burst into tears, Then calmed again : "my reindeer fleet, I gave them up on foot, my dears, I now must plod through snow and sleet. "Retrenchment rules in Elfland, now; Yes, every luxury is cut off. -Which, by the way, reminds me how I caught this dreadful hacking cough: "I cut off the tail of my Ulster furred To make young Kris a coat of state. Thus we become the sport of Fate. "For I was out till after one, Surveying chimney-tops and roofs, Without my reindeers' bouncing hoofs. 66 6 My dear,' says Mrs. Claus, that night (A most superior woman she!) 'It never, never can be right That you, deep-sunk in poverty, "This year should leave your poor old bed, "Since you've been out, the news arrives "And even while you're thus harassed, You'd go, in spite of all that's passed, "Oh, Charley, Harry, Nimblewits, These eyes, that night, ne'er slept a wink. My path seemed honeycombed with pits. Naught could I do but think and think. "But, with the day, my courage rose. Ne'er shall my boys, my boys (I cried), "Then hewed and whacked and whittled I; (He handed me a bundle, here.) 66 quick! Now, hoist me up there, gently BALTIMORE, December, 1877. A FLORIDA GHOST. Down mildest shores of milk-white sand, Past far-off palms that filmed to nought, That laced the land like fragile patterns wrought To edge old broideries, The sail sighed on all day for joy, The prow each pouting wave did leave All smile and song, with sheen and ripple coy, Till the dusk diver Eve Brought up from out the brimming East In that large lustre all our haste surceased, The silent steersman landward turned, But soon from sleep's dear death (it seemed) On to infinity. |