Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1895 — LONG AFORE HE KNOWED. [ARTICLE]

LONG AFORE HE KNOWED.

Jes' a little bit o' feller—l remember still— Ust to almost ery fer Christmas, like a youngster will. Fourth o’ July’s nothin’ to It!—New Year's ain’t a smell; Easter Sunday—Circus day—jes all dead In the shell! Lord, though! at night, you know, to set around and hear The old folks work the story off about the sledge and deer. And “Santy” shootin’ ’round the roof, all wrapped In fur and fuzz— Long afore I knowed who "Santy Claus” wuz! Ust to wait, and set up late, a week or two ahead; Couldn’t hardly keep awake, nor wouldn't go to bed; Kittle stewin’ on the Are and mother settln* here Darnin’ socks, and rockin’ In the skreeky rockin’ cheer; Pap gap’, and wunder where It wus the money went. And quar’l with his frosted heels, and spill his liniment; And mo a dreamin' sleighbells when the clock ’ud whirr and buzz. Long afore I knowed who “Santy Claus” wus! Size the fireplace up, and Agger how "Old Santy” could Manage to come bown the chlmbly, like they said he would; Wlsht that I could hide and Bee him—wundered what he’d say Es he ketched a feller layin’ fer him that away? But I bet on him, and liked him, same as If he had Turned to pat me on the back and say: “Look here, my lad. Here’s my pack—jes’ be'p yourse’f, like all good boys does!” Long afore I knowed who , "Santy Claus” wuz! Wish that yarn was true about him, as It ’peared to be— Truth made out o' Iles like that un's good enough fer me! Wlsht I still wuz so confidin’, I could jes’ go wild Over hangin’ up my stockiu’s like the little child Climbin’ in my lap to-night, and beggln' me to tell 'Bout them reindeer, and “Old Santy” that she loves so welt I’m half sorry for this little girl sweetheart of his— Long afore She knows who “Santy Claus” Is. —James Whitcomb Riley.