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^% g - a \ i a %. when our Pa he's h>Nen Uncle Sidney ?g r comes to stay Jhouse here?so i?lArfS^fty an' Lee-Bob W won't be JP-i Afeard efjmything at fr 'i (f: Might happen-like Ma says it might (Ef Trip wuz big, I bet you he Uz best watch-dog you ever see!) An' so last winter?1st before It's go' be Chris'mus Day,?w'y, shore Enough, Pa had to haf to go To 'tend a lawsuit?"An* the snow 1st right fcr Santy Claus!" Pa said. As he clum in old Ayersuz' sled. An' said he's sorry he can't be With us that night?"'Cause,"he-says-ee, "Old Santy might be comin' here?/ I This very night of all the year^ ^ T got to be away!?so all Lv, You kids must tell him?ef he call-^TTy He'3 mighty welcome, ah' yer Pa yTgr He left his love with you an\Ma&j H An' Uncle Sid!" An' cluckcdl^n' leant Back, laughinVan^wa>rtrtey<wentl | <^ir "v h ? y fV (mi Jin? Wncfe zoa.vc' fiis Ort> Aando aui' ytCCt j?t. J & ' J-h An' Unci^v ave^-his hands an yells ' "Yer old horse^ort to^aWon bells!" But Pa yell back ar'^fiugh an' say "I 'spect when Sanry come this way It's time enough fer sleighbclls nenT An' holler back "Good-byl" again, An' reach outwith the driver's whip An' cut behinasnldrive back Trip. 5ar An' so all day it^Mjqwcd an' snowed! An' Lee-Bob he ist* watched the road, In his high-cmor^'ar;! Etty she ?n ; | 1^ 1 v4xLct-3o?>. A* i<st J*X-e -weiicAia t/U- /J(u/ U'd playNyith Uncle Sid an'm^Vr? Like she wuz^h^npin' fetch in wood An" keepin' old fire goin' good. Where Ma she wuz a-cooiun!-there An' kitchen, too. an' ever'whtrel ^ An' Uncle say, " 'At's ist the w'ay^?Vi>^ Yer Ma's b'en workin', night an' day,Y"*\ Sence she hain't big as Etty is O j Er Lee-Bob in that chair of his!'' \\^}'\ Nen Ma she'd laugh't what Uncle wij,' An' smack an' smoove his old bald^roa An' say "Clear out the way till L "v- j? Can keep that pot ,fro^> b'ilin" dryl" ; f ., i In sm&.S: ' ;! ?' Juz j* ?-co?4in' t/?M? w I j / 0 #' -?L A Defi i k ^ Illustrations J C. M. Rel_yea and ^ ^4 ^^0^'dltifitrod tfam ofd 6ly /.T'Aci 'tat*Ft in -tfic pfac*. Nen Uncle, when she's gone back *to The kitchen, says, "We ust to do '} Some copkin" in the ashes.?Say, ;f S posin'-'we "try.'$ome, thatawayl" An' nen he send'.us to tell Ma ? \l Send two big 'talers in he sow #. Pa's b'en a-kee^>in' 'cause they g-t 0y The premium at the Fair. An! what';/) You think??He" rldce a grea'-bfg holo In the hot ashes, an!-he roll '.7' ? ' Q Them old big 'taters in die place., An' rake the coals back'-^an' his.face .* " 'Vv _ X1st s'wettin"so's he purt'-nigh swear 'Cayse it's sb hot! An' when they're there 'Bout-time'at we fergit 'em, he 1st rake 'cm out again -an' gee!? .// He bu'st 'em. with his fist wite on-'f A' old stove-led, while Etty's gone; To get the gait, an' butter, too?3'f| 1st like he said she haf to do, Non^^r^ tic Stat I ever xuux." | H^^tw^ibutler 'cm, an' blow I 'Em coo/enough to eat? An' m^/o-mykthey're hard to bectNC>j An' Trip 'ud ist lhv there an' pant J^if Like he'd laugh out loud, but he can't// Nen Uncle fill his pipe?an' we // 'Ud he'p him light it?Sis an' mo^But mostly little Lee-Bob, 'cause "He's the best lighter ever wuz!" Like Uncle telled him vvunst when LeeBob cried an' jerked the light from me, He wuz so mad! So Uncle pat An' pet him. (Lee-Bob's ust to that? 'Cause he's the littletest, you know, AiV alius v '' ' '-I '^<i/fn 'o(d iAree-(tajud. /of \^r Atiffut - ' \ Ncnjljncle fits th 'iat-am out. -_X"jv> An\ /While he's tcllin' us all 'bout 0!d(thris'mus-times when he's a kid./J^ He 1st crocked hickemuts, he did, //- J Till txiey'sjuccockful, mighty nigh!/ An' when they rtKall done by an, by, * He raked the red coals out again ^ |S An' telled me, "Fe/ch that pdpcom in, An' old three-legfjnxl skHlut?an' ,V The led an' all fWvMittle, inan? eV*J An' yer old Uncle here.'^ill show % ^ o You how corn's popped, lpng^yeartfpgo When me an' Santy ClauTwuz boys J (I On Pap's old place in Winoise^U.. An' your Pa, tod, wuz chums, all through, THE FORT MILL TIMES, FC . . <**} ective I cJames Wt Till Vawter COPYR1CHT BV JAM1 With Santyl?Wisht Pa'd be here, tool" Ncn Uncle sigh at Ma, an' she Pat him again, an' say to me An' Etty,?"You take warning fair!? Don't talk too much, like Uncle there, Ner don't fergit, like him, my dears, That 'little pitchers has big ears!'" But Uncle say to her, "Clear out!? Yer brother knows what he's about? You git your Chris' mus-cookin' done Er these pore children won't have none!" Nen Trip wake up an' raise, an' nen Turn roun' an' nen lay down again. An' one time Uncle Sidney say,? "When dogs is sleepin' thataway, Like Trip, an' whimpers, it's a sign He'll ketch eight rabbits?mayby nine-? Afore his fleas' 11 wake him?nen? Hell bite hisse'f to sleep again An try to drym hg^g'VkeKh ten." lii JtttcA aijfil ra.66idJ^Uryg ? zruzyby nina> An v,hen Ma's gone again backup-"'f The kifchcn, Uncle scratchjuscfiin An' My, "When-SaxrtjrCfajjS an' ? An' me'wuz little boy's?jui' Ma, wnen sne\$ doui cig c,?y uicrc,-" W'y,?'Whervvye're^rowed?no matter whereT^^c^p Santy he cross' hi*b?art an* say,-i?^r 'I'll come to see youVall, some Sjfy0 When you' got childerns?all burtfiev An' pore old Sid!' Nen Uncle he j 1st kindo' shade hisjeyes an' pour' I Bout forty-'levettomhelsmore ^ i O' popcorn put th^dlluttlTHe In Ma's basket 09-the chmv. IICcotm to eee. yotiKQ f3onxocCaJ * 1 An' nen he tel!ed us?an talk' low A "So Ma can't hear," he say:?"You know Yer Pa know', when he/drived away, \ Tomorry's go' be Chris'mus-Day;? !] Well, r.en tonight," he whisper,"see?-*/ It's go' be Chris'mus-Eve," says-ee, J "An", like yer Pa hint, when he went/ Old Santy Claus (now hush) he^spent Yer Pa a postul card, an' write He's shore'.y go be here topighr\ Tha, :r P^^^orcd to be cAo'tfy yo' JSz \.K?i ^ h<z.rc, tonigrAt^?* ^y* 3RT MILL, S. C. ? o Santa C litcomb !$?&ic*fc< Dc T Ills IS WHITCOMB RILEY (CO ? ? " i J 1 . i m r # . f 1 lw 1 K(y 3ut Una/* ?tJ, an.'c/fet, "vi. Away tonight, when Sapt? he-'^H^ Is go'oc here, sldghbells an' aJl, To ma :e you kids a Chris-mus-calll" An" we re so^jlad to know fer shor; He's comm , I roll on the floor? An* her^xome Trip a-waller'n' roun* An' \purtj-nigh knock the cla eshorsc An' Etty grab Lee-Bob an' prance All roun' the room like it's a danceTill Ma she come arid march us nen To dinner, where wjp re still again, U| ?? But tickled so we Jwcah't eat ?? But pie, an' ist the;Mt mincsmeat'!2 With raisins in.?rJ^uKUncle et, An' Ma, An^wre tfiejiLset and set) ^-1] r? ?o ?? ? ? 37y ZOAen a)* a/7\0a.cCcC(* 6acA,j&^ tuit/l Jt ^L\C Till purt'-nigh supper-time; nen we Tjell him he's got to fix the Tree lie 'Pore Santy gets here, like he said, nt We go nen to the old woodshedAll Wndled up, through the deep snow "An" snowin' yet, jee-rooshy-Ol' r\ j Uncle he said, an' he p us wade K Bahk "V/herfe!s tlie Chris'mus-^ree ) h?| made^___ Out of a little jackoak-top Ovi^ ! He git down at the sawmill-shop? An' Trip 'ud run ahead, you know^l rv An' '117 ^nfin' ?nnu/?tZ. Si When we all waddle back with it; An' Ifc (3^^? *~"T7 i ; J/aint tfia.t a.<f/*iifA a.n\ Y / yXfjf, c.feiakb*(fj JinjCinJ' 'J>(\ In front the fireplace? cause ] K) ] He says " Tain t so at Santy Claus Comes down all chimblies,?least, fonight ' HVs comin' in this house all right? By <he front-^Jootyas ort to be!?V I i W'e UhH-bd'hid whWe we can see!\_^ Nen he look up, an be see M.An' say, "It's ist too bad their, Ea^ Can t be here, so's to see the fun ) ^ The childern will have, ever one!' j Well, we!?We hardly rxmid^ t w^t Till it wuz dusk, an dark an late u) , Enough to light the lamp!-tAn' Lee- ? Bob light a candle on the trer^-"Ist one?cause I'm'The Lighter!?Nen He dumb on Uncle's knee again An hug us bofe;?an Etty git /. X* Her little chist an set on it Wite clo61 while Uncle telled spmc more Bout Santy Claus, an' clo es helwore / "AH maked o furs, an' trimmed va? w)rflc As cotton is, er snow at nightl" As? nen, all sudden-like, be say,? [ - - -VI ^ ^laus < *corations by , iworth Youno/ \ _ "Hush! Listen there! Hain't that a Sleigh An' sleighbells jinglin'?" Trip go"Whoohl" Like he hear bells an' smell 'em, too. Nen we all listen. An'-sir, shoro Enough, we hear bells?more and more A-jinglin' clos ter?clos'ter still Down the old crook-road roun' the hilL An' Uncle he jumps up, an' all The chairs he jerks back by the wall An' th'owa a' overcoat an' pair O' winder-curtains over there An' says, "Hide quick, er you're too latel? Them bells is stoppin' at the gate!? Git back o' them-'air/ehairs an' hide, Cause I hear Santyja voice outsider An' Bang! bang! bang|weheerd the door? % J/j?n itfCtxMtd ojxn Nen it fLwed open, and the flooc^^ Blowed lull o' snow?that's first wc saw. Till little/Lee-Bob shriek' at Ma 'There VSanty Claus! I know him by His bi&yhite mufftash!' ?jan' ist cry An' latikh an' squeal an' dknce air'jwll?< Till, whct\he quiet^own a spell, v4 Old Santy bo^-an' tl\ow a Ws3 Tn him?an' nnn tn mfl an' Sis-fer \>?<VV I An' nen go dost to Ma an' stoop An' kiss her?An' nen give a whoop V> That fainted heri?Cause when he bent An' kiss her, he ist backed an' went Wite ginst the Chris' mus-Tree ist where The candle's at Lee-Bob lit there!?^ An'set his white-fur belt afire? n An' blaze streaked roun" hiawaisj' an" higher ] 1^ I I ? a^?r' i i Jw. iot jot to jjizt you otd; Wite up^iis old white beard an thoat^7 Nen Uncle grabs th' old overcoat An' flops it over Santy's head, An' swing the door wide baclc an' sai^)' "Come put, old man!?an quick about* Id?1'\6 ist got to put you out!" An' out pe sprawled him in the snowA "Now rollV^he say^?"Hi-roll-ee^DI' An Santy,-sputter rr<QuchiTjec-whiz!" Ist roll an roll fer all they is! An Trip he's out there, too,?I know, Cause I could hear him yappin' so? An I heerd Santy, wunst er twfc'r/^ Say, as he's rollii., "Drat tha^^N/\ Nen Uncle come back in. an'Viaktk^x Ma up. an' say, "Fer mercy-sdker? He hain't hurt none!" An' r.cn he said.? 'You youngsters h ist up-stairs to bed!? riere: kiss yer jvia uoou-nigni, an me,? We II he'p old Santy fix the Tree? An all yer whistles n^rns an' drums ['U he'p yjoo^^pn morning ccmesl" It's we go to sleep,? Cause down-stairs, all-time somepin keep N:' /ft v/X %>om* merit u-taffan out tJiere Joy ih* Jenc* \jts \ ?-?Jr r ^n J:. r:j ^r iafC I ^ nodi ^ A-kindo' scufflin' roun' the floors? JJkv An' openin' doors, an' shettin' doors? An' could hear Trip a-whinin', too, Like he didn't know ist what to do? An' tongs a-clankin' down k'thumpl? Non some one squonkin' the old pump? An' Whoohl 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 so^ticrp^f^ A-talkin' out there by the fen^.(?j An' one says, "Oh, bout tyvelve oclodd" to afn oris ^ ^ r, "M-* God ble?s us ever' one!' An' nen>-uX I heerdthc old pump squonk again. An' nen I say my prayer all through Like. Uncle Sidney learn' me to.? i-.*. _ * ' ii "O Father mine, e cn as Thine own, $ This child looks' up to Thee alone: Asleep or"waking, give him still, ,:.r. \ His Elder brother s wish,'and will.''.V*? An' that' the last I know Till Ma' She's callin' us?an' so is Pa,? V' He holler "Chris'mus-gtf!" an' say,?' "I'm got back home fcr Chris mus-Day!? An' Uncle Sid s here, too?an' he Is nibblin' 'roun' yer Chris'mus-Trce!" ' 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? J Tetchin' hisse'f off same as ef He Vfus his own fireworks hisse H" ^ \ 6010 A isfkee j An . when were down-stairs. ?shore V'Vv'v ^r.orwjh ' \ / Pa s nose is froze, aa salve an' stufy All on it?an one handh froze, too. An got a old yam red-and-blue \ Mitt on it?"An he s froz^some more hy Acrost bis 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 th'at^ Q Air fire broke out, an" quicker'n scar y He's all a-blazin', on' them-'air A Gun-cottin whiskers that he wear Ki 1st flashin'!?till I bum a hole In the snow with him, and he mil \ The front yard dry as Chris'mus jokes! Old parents plays on little folks! X / But. long's a smell o' tow er woo', ( /-* I kept' him rollin' beauttfull? ^ Till I wuz sure I shorely see He'ssquenched! W'y.hadn't b'en ferme. That old man might a-bumt clear down Gean?plum?level with the groun'l" Nen Ma say. "There. Sid; that'll do!? IjJreakfast is ready?Chris'mus too ? Your voice ud soun' best, sayin' GraceSay it." An' Uncle bow' his face. An' say so long a Blessing nen. Trip bark two times fore it's "A-menl" ' y