75 ^?^^ 
 
I7i/,^ 
 
^4 
 
-^5 • 
 
 r"! 
 
 Copyright, iSSf., 
 
 r,y f.LDKiDGE J. Smith. 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 C. W. SHOWN, PR., 1319 F ST. 
 
wm 
 
 ■j-^S^ 
 
 WAS the night before Christmas, and because 
 The children were crazy to greet Santa Claus, 
 That homes were lighted so bright, you might say 
 The gloom of the night had been driven away. 
 And all of the children, whose loving mama 
 Had told them that " Santa was big as papa," 
 Went to bed and to sleep, assured in the night 
 Of his bringing them presents before it was light. 
 
UTmany poor children each bright Christmas day 
 Never heard of Santa Clans, I am sorry to say; 
 Like a poor little girl, who lived in a house 
 Too small, you would think, to hold even a mouse. 
 Her mother was sick and lay on the bed ; 
 Bennie, her brother, cried: "Dive me tome bread 
 Dear Maudie, I's so told," while his eyes 
 Filled with the diamonds that fall from the skies. 
 
 "Oh dear!" said Maudie, to herself, with a sigh; 
 "Is Jesus sorry, I wonder, to hear brother cry? 
 Suppose I should ask him to give us some bread, 
 And coal for the fire, — would he hear what I said ? 
 I hope it is true, that God answers prayer. 
 But if He's way off in heaven up there, 
 I feel very sure that he never could hear. 
 Unless he would let me get up to him near." 
 
^i 
 
^m SUPPOSE I'm too little to pray as I ouglit " 
 
 f[ (Then Maudie was silent awhile in deep thought) 
 " I can't pray ^'ood, so perhaps I'd better 
 Tell Jesus what we'er wanting, in a letter. 
 
 With a small bit of paper, and stubby old pen 
 She commenced : '' Dear Jesus, I'm little, but then 
 You love little children, I hear people say. 
 That's why I write you this letter to-day. 
 I'm such a little bit of a girl, don't you see ; 
 And dear brother Bennie ain't half big as me ; 
 And that is the reason that sometimes I fear 
 That God might forget we ever were here. 
 There's no one to love us but mama, — for oh! 
 Papa went to heaven a long time ago ; 
 And now do'nt you think, since he went away, 
 That Santa Clause never comes over this way ; 
 And when Christmas comes, he nevermore brings 
 What other children get, — the beautifulest things.'' 
 
 3 
 
^\EAR mama is sick, — do you think she will die? 
 
 g/ Why, even to think of it now, makes me cry ; 
 If mama should go where papa has gone. 
 How could Bennie and I stay here all alone ? 
 
 My teacher has taught me, and I think it is true 
 That you know everything ; so I leave it with you 
 To send us dear Jesus, /z^^/ what you thi7ik best. 
 Give my love to dear papa, and all of the rest — 
 I mean all the angels, and dear children too. 
 Who are happy in heaven a-staying with you. 
 I'll go there some day, for indeed I shall try 
 To be a good girl. Dear Jesus good bye." 
 
 Then she folded the letter, while a few gentle sighs 
 Were drying the tears that fell from her eyes. 
 
 4 
 
• 
 
^^l^pW how shall I address it," she said to herself; 
 
 "mil (This was a puzzle for the sweet little elf.) 
 " Cau any one tell me the very best way, 
 So that Jesus would get it without any delay ?" 
 At last she wrote : " Christ Jesus;" what next? 
 The more she thought, the more perplexed. 
 ^^Tke Kingdorn of Heaven " at last she wrote it 
 And added, ''''Boston, Massachusetts !' 
 
 A good pastor lived, some one informed her 
 Near a " little church around the corner." 
 Then, with flashing eyes and flowing locks. 
 She ran and put it in his letter box ; 
 Because she wanted the letter, you know, 
 To get to Jesus, quick as it could go. 
 
 The pastor wondered, you safely can guess, 
 On receiving the note with such an address ; 
 But he said to himself : " Surely I had better 
 Be an instrument now, and answer the letter." 
 
 5 
 
fOUR horses it took, and a very large sleigh, 
 _^ To carry the presents to Maudie that day. 
 They had plenty to eat now, nice clothes for all, 
 Books for Bennie, — for mama a shawl ; 
 Indeed they could think of hardly a thing, 
 That Jesus did'nt make old Santa Claus bring. 
 Maudie, delighted, was heard to declare, 
 " That Santa Claus was surely a big millionaire; 
 That Jesus did listen to children who pray. 
 And told Mister Santa, to call 'round this wa}^" 
 Then Bennie spoke up the best that he could: 
 '' I loves Desus now, betaus He id dood." 
 (Just what you'd expect from one of his years. 
 With mouth full of taffy, and eyes full of tears.) 
 
4k' 
 
 HE forces which hurled yon stars into light ; — 
 The glory we see flaming up in the night ; 
 And the power uniting is love undefiled, 
 Which findeth its home in the heart of a child. 
 Oh ! ye who are weary with earth and its care; 
 Whose hearts are now burdened with all they can bear; 
 Tossed by the tempest and torn by its strife, 
 The faith of a child is the secret of life. 
 The smile of the skeptic may darken to sneers ; 
 The delver in earth, may voice only jeers ; 
 But away from our life youths joy is beguiled, 
 If we laugh at the faith of an innocent child. 
 
 ELDRIDGE SMITH. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 015 762 935 9 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 015 762 935 9 •