 | Echoes of Spring |  |
SANTA CLAUS' SLEIGH RIDE.
DEDICATED TO MY LITTLE NIECES AND NEPHEWS.
'Twas late in the month of December,
And all things were merry and gay;
When Santa Claus came from his dwelling of fame,
And took up the reins in his sleigh.
And all things were merry and gay;
When Santa Claus came from his dwelling of fame,
And took up the reins in his sleigh.
Ere he seated, he sounded his bugle,
In a tone that was cheering and clear;
He then cried out, with a merry old shout,
To his three score span of deer.
In a tone that was cheering and clear;
He then cried out, with a merry old shout,
To his three score span of deer.
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Then away with a loud, merry, clatter,
His bells echoed loud on the wind;
And he and his sleigh, were soon far away,
While his mansion lay far, far, behind.
His bells echoed loud on the wind;
And he and his sleigh, were soon far away,
While his mansion lay far, far, behind.
His reindeer were active and nimble,
They bounded in haste through the snow;
For short was the night, to take such a flight,
To millions of homes, don't you know.
They bounded in haste through the snow;
For short was the night, to take such a flight,
To millions of homes, don't you know.
His stay was short in each dwelling,
Where the little ones slept in their beds,
And leaving some toys, for the girls and the boys,
He 'gan mounted roofs overhead.
Where the little ones slept in their beds,
And leaving some toys, for the girls and the boys,
He 'gan mounted roofs overhead.
In some climes the snow had not fallen,
Then what did Old Santa Claus do?
Why—he yelled to his deer, in a voice shrill and clear;
They mounted the air, and they flew.
Then what did Old Santa Claus do?
Why—he yelled to his deer, in a voice shrill and clear;
They mounted the air, and they flew.
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And long 'fore it dawned Christmas morning,
He had made his journey complete;
From his three score deer, he took all the gear,
And piled them, a heap at his feet.
He had made his journey complete;
From his three score deer, he took all the gear,
And piled them, a heap at his feet.
His good wife then gave him a bumper,
Of claret, all sparkling and strong.
And she sang him a health, and she wished him wealth;
That his life might be happy and long.
Of claret, all sparkling and strong.
And she sang him a health, and she wished him wealth;
That his life might be happy and long.
All weary from hasty exertion,
And a long, long, ride in his sleigh.
When the bright dawn did peep, he was sound, sound asleep.
And that's how he spent Christmas day.
And a long, long, ride in his sleigh.
When the bright dawn did peep, he was sound, sound asleep.
And that's how he spent Christmas day.
| Echoes of Spring | |