 | A merry-go-round of song |  |
2
THE CLOCK AND THE CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Grandfather Clock, standing back in the gloom,
Heard the knives and the forks in a neighbouring room,
And the clatter of plates as the girls and the boys
Did their best to increase such a jubilant noise
As never till then had been heard in the hall
Where the Cavaliers hung in their frames on the wall!
Such a rumpus bewildered the mice; and the Clock
Went crack-crack in his case from the force of the shock!
“'Tis enough to make my pendulum hurry,
And both my weights run down in a flurry!
Why, bless my heart, whatever could start
Such a chattering flock?”
Quoth the Grandfather Clock.
(But he didn't run down.)
Heard the knives and the forks in a neighbouring room,
And the clatter of plates as the girls and the boys
Did their best to increase such a jubilant noise
As never till then had been heard in the hall
Where the Cavaliers hung in their frames on the wall!
Such a rumpus bewildered the mice; and the Clock
Went crack-crack in his case from the force of the shock!
“'Tis enough to make my pendulum hurry,
And both my weights run down in a flurry!
Why, bless my heart, whatever could start
Such a chattering flock?”
Quoth the Grandfather Clock.
(But he didn't run down.)
Just after his casing of walnut went crack
Both the sides of the door were moved suddenly back.
What the Grandad beheld caused a very sharp rick
In his side, and he nearly omitted to tick!
For ho-ho! the bright dozens of boys and of girls
With the papery caps on the top of their curls!
With jellies and tartlets and fruit and mince-pies
And custards and candles and fairy-lit eyes!
“'Tis enough to make my pendulum hurry,
And both my weights run down in a flurry!
Upon my word, I never have heard
Such a merry-mad flock!”
Quoth the Grandfather Clock.
(But he didn't run down.)
Both the sides of the door were moved suddenly back.
What the Grandad beheld caused a very sharp rick
In his side, and he nearly omitted to tick!
For ho-ho! the bright dozens of boys and of girls
With the papery caps on the top of their curls!
With jellies and tartlets and fruit and mince-pies
And custards and candles and fairy-lit eyes!
3
And both my weights run down in a flurry!
Upon my word, I never have heard
Such a merry-mad flock!”
Quoth the Grandfather Clock.
(But he didn't run down.)
Then the children got up from the table and rushed
For their hands to be cleaned and their curls to be brushed;
And when they were tidy they stood in the gloom
Near the big folding-doors of the Grandfather's room.
Then a very tall gentleman pressed with his thumb
On a little white button, for radiance to come
From ceiling and mantel and cornice and wall
To light the magnificent room—for a ball!
“'Tis enough to make my pendulum hurry,
And both my weights run down in a flurry,
To see go round to the fiddle's sound
Such a nimble-sweet flock!”
Quoth the Grandfather Clock.
(But he didn't run down.)
For their hands to be cleaned and their curls to be brushed;
And when they were tidy they stood in the gloom
Near the big folding-doors of the Grandfather's room.
Then a very tall gentleman pressed with his thumb
On a little white button, for radiance to come
From ceiling and mantel and cornice and wall
To light the magnificent room—for a ball!
“'Tis enough to make my pendulum hurry,
And both my weights run down in a flurry,
To see go round to the fiddle's sound
Such a nimble-sweet flock!”
Quoth the Grandfather Clock.
(But he didn't run down.)
When the Spirit of Christmas determined to call
Lovely legions of playmates to join in the ball,
Then the Hollybush Fairylings pricked at the legs
Of the Rogers and Lucys and Normans and Megs;
And the Mistletoe Fairylings fluttered about
On the chance of defeating some little girl's pout
And persuading her apple-cheeked partner to dare
What the season allowed him to snatch from the Fair!
“'Tis enough to make my pendulum hurry,
And both my weights run down in a flurry!
I little knew I should ever view
Such a lovable flock!”
Quoth the Grandfather Clock.
(But he didn't run down.)
Lovely legions of playmates to join in the ball,
Then the Hollybush Fairylings pricked at the legs
Of the Rogers and Lucys and Normans and Megs;
And the Mistletoe Fairylings fluttered about
On the chance of defeating some little girl's pout
And persuading her apple-cheeked partner to dare
What the season allowed him to snatch from the Fair!
4
And both my weights run down in a flurry!
I little knew I should ever view
Such a lovable flock!”
Quoth the Grandfather Clock.
(But he didn't run down.)
So excited he grew that he once tried to spring
From his place and to join in a Highlander's fling,
For he fell deep in love with a quaint little girl's
Blue campanula eyes and marsh marigold curls!
But, as fortune would have it, the delicate dear,
Being much out of breath, to the Grandad came near,
And, in thanks for his coolness, kept pressing her face
And her bright scarlet lips on his walnutty case!
“'Tis enough to make my pendulum hurry,
And both my weights run down in a flurry,
To have a kiss from the charming miss
Who's the flower of the flock!”
Quoth the Grandfather Clock.
(And he then ran down.)
From his place and to join in a Highlander's fling,
For he fell deep in love with a quaint little girl's
Blue campanula eyes and marsh marigold curls!
But, as fortune would have it, the delicate dear,
Being much out of breath, to the Grandad came near,
And, in thanks for his coolness, kept pressing her face
And her bright scarlet lips on his walnutty case!
“'Tis enough to make my pendulum hurry,
And both my weights run down in a flurry,
To have a kiss from the charming miss
Who's the flower of the flock!”
Quoth the Grandfather Clock.
(And he then ran down.)
| A merry-go-round of song | |