^^i:g^3Q;g;:^a;^g^Q3(^c;g^-, 
 
 |.i!BRARY OF CONGRESS, i 
 
 5^ 5Ae//X^JS4'- i 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. \ 
 

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A Christmas Ballad, 
 
 
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 ^yi 
 
 
 New York : 
 s. r. wells, publisher. 
 
 1870. 
 

 Entered nccsvding to Act of Congress, in tbe year 1869, by 
 
 SAMUEL R. WELLS, 
 
 io the Clerk's office of thr District Court of the United States for the 
 
 Southerii District of New York, 
 
 Thb Taow &. Smith Book Manuf'g Co., Pbistehb, 
 
 46, 43, 50 ORBENS STBUKT, NEW TORK. 
 
t$o Benny, in ;j?ai;adise, 
 
 ^ h i 8 i^ i m p 1 e B h y m e 
 
 Inspired by a Loveliness of (^empejj, 
 
 h i c h :| i p e n e d into a (|5 h a i| a c t e tj 
 
 (^00 Beautiful foi| this Moijld 
 
 il s I n 8 c i| i b e d by, 
 
 l^xs ftijotheti. 
 

 
 T.2? 
 
Illustrations, 
 
 1. Benny's Prayer — ■ 
 
 " God bess fader ; God bess moder ; 
 
 God bess sister ;" — then a pause, — 
 And the sweet young lips devoutly, 
 
 Murmured " God bess Santa Kaus." 
 
 2. Asleep — 
 
 And I bend above him, weeping 
 Thankful tears, oh, Undefiled ! 
 
 For a woman's crown of glory. 
 For the blessing of a child. 
 
 Artist, Mr. F. A. CHAPMAN, Engraver, Mr. Wm. Howland. 
 
ft 
 
 '^ 
 
 Illustrations. 
 
 3. Harney's Frolic — 
 
 " But the kitten there before me, 
 
 With his white paw, nothing loth, 
 
 Sat, by way of entertainment. 
 
 Slapping off the shining froth." 
 
 4, Benny's Indignation 
 
 " Santa Kaus ! come down de chimney, 
 Make my moder 'have hersef." 
 
HAD told him, Christmas morning, 
 As he sat upon my knee, 
 Holding fast his little stockings. 
 
 Stuffed as full as full could be. 
 And attentive listening to me 
 
 With a face demure and mild, 
 That good Santa-Klaus, who filled them. 
 Does not love a naughty child. 
 

 lUT we'll be good, won't we, Moder?" 
 And from off my lap he slid, 
 Digging deep among the goodies 
 In his crimson stockings hid; 
 While I turned me to my table 
 
 Where a tempting goblet stood 
 Brimming high with dainty egg-nog 
 Sent me by a neighbour good. 
 

 lUT the kitten, there before me 
 
 With his white paw, nothing loth, 
 Sat, by way of entertainment 
 
 Slapping off the shining froth ; 
 And in not the gentlest humour 
 
 At the loss of such a treat, 
 I confess I rather rudely 
 
 Thrust him out into the street. 
 
 VS. 
 
'HEN how Benny's blueeyes kindled! 
 
 Gathering up the precious store 
 He had busily been pouring 
 In his tiny pinafore, 
 With a generous look that shamed me 
 
 Sprang he from the carpet bright, 
 Showing by his mien indignant 
 All a baby's sense of right. 
 
OME back, Harney .'"called he loudly 
 
 As he held his apron white, 
 "You sail have my candy wabbit!' 
 But the door was fastened tight ; 
 So he stood, abashed and silent 
 
 In the centre of the floor 
 With defeated look alternate 
 
 Bent on me and on the door. 
 
HEN, as from a sudden impulse 
 
 Quickly ran he to the fire, 
 And while eagerly his bright eyes 
 Watched the flames go high and higher, 
 In a brave clear key he shouted 
 
 Like some lordly little elf, 
 *' Santa Kaus ! Come down de chimney 
 Make my moder 'have hersef!" 
 
will be a good girl, Benny," 
 Said I, feeling the reproof, 
 And straightway recalled poor Harney 
 Mewing on the gallery roof; 
 Soon the anger was forgotten, 
 
 Laughter chased away the frown, 
 And they played beneath the live-oaks 
 Till the dusky night came down. 
 
my dim firelighted. chamber 
 Harney purred beneath my chair, 
 my play-worn boy beside me 
 Knelt to say his evening prayer: 
 "God bess Fader, — God bess Moder, 
 
 God bess Sister," — then a pause, 
 And the sweet young lips devoutly 
 Murmured "God bess Santa Kaus !*' 
 
y 
 
 E is sleeping; — brown and silken 
 Lie the lashes long and meek 
 CiiX-^aJ.Like caressing clinging shadows 
 
 On his plump and peachy cheek ; 
 And I bend above him, weeping 
 Thankful tears, oh Undefiled! 
 For a woman's crown of glory, 
 For the blessing of a child !