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 sure-
Enough 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.
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