A Christmas Treasury: Classic Holiday Stories and Poems to Celebrate the Yuletide Season

by Charles Dickens, L Frank Baum, Louisa May Alcott, et al (Barnes

  Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

  He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

  And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

  And laying his finger aside of his nose,

  And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

  He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

  And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

  But I heard him exclaim, ere be drove out of sight

  “HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

  AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!”

  Christmas Greetings

  (FROM A FAIRY TO A CHILD)

  Lewis Carroll

  Lady, dear, if fairies may

  For a moment lay aside

  Cunning tricks and elfish play,

  ’Tis at happy Christmas-tide.

  We have heard the children say—

  Gentle children, whom we love—

  Long ago, on Christmas Day,

  Came a message from above.

  Still, as Christmas-tide comes round,

  They remember it again—

  Echo still the joyful sound,

  “Peace on earth, good-will to men!”

  Yet the heart must childlike be

  Where such heavenly guests abide.

  Unto children, in their glee,

  All the year is Christmas-tide.

  Thus forgetting tricks and play

  For a moment, Lady dear,

  We would wish you, if we may,

  Merry Christmas, glad New Year!

  Birth and Adventures of Santa Claus

  William Cotter Wilson

  Far, far away in distant ages, before the life of man was known,

  With none to paint the picture-pages for which our children now are prone,

  Time, out in space, all sad and lonely, moved slowly through the universe;

  Conscious ever that he only with God and angels could converse.

  Being weary of a single life, the palace of the Sun he sought,

  Determined to find therein a wife, and with him his credentials brought.

  Old Sol, with beaming, bright expression—the gray-beard saw and welcomed him,

  And quick prepared a grand procession of laughing, chubby cherubim.

  Now Sunbeam was the oldest daughter, who marshal’d on the glittering throng;

  With harps the Seraphim besought her and cheer’d the angel band with song.

  A glittering conclave graced the throne when Sol the happy swain addressed—

  “Time: My daughter, Sunbeam, is thine own; with deathless life be each possessed.”

  Here in my celestial home has earth’s first nuptial knot been tied,

  From out my courts shall worlds unknown, the deathless universe divide;

  Each world shall be to each a light; thou, Time, by marriage made my son,

  Shall mark the nations in their flight, while worlds shall crumble, one by one.

  The queen of seraphs and thy bride with thee shall back to earth repair,

  And magic wands I will provide that shall protect them everywhere.

  The source of life they shall control, and beings rise at their command,

  And joy shall fill each life-wrought soul and shower its blessings o’er the land.

  The seraph queen, a fairy now, shall wingless on the earth reside,

  And she my mandates will avow and e’er protect thee and thy bride;

  The soil thy every want shall yield and all thy human hosts maintain,

  And endless life shall be revealed to every soul on earth’s domain.

  Tho’ older than his father-in-law, old Time was ever blithe and gay,

  And in the crystal ice he saw his hair and beard were snowy gray.

  Now Sunbeam and Time a counsel held in a broad cave of clefted ice;

  By fairies and fays they were bespel’d, but fought against each elf’s device.

  They each wished a son that should embrace sleek, snowy locks and sunlit face,

  Wherein old age and youth may trace enwisdom’d years and youthful grace.

  Now Sunbeam back to her father hied and met him as he left his throne;

  Old Sol, through the aisle his daughter ’spied, whose radiant face majestic shone;

  He read her wish in every line like words congealed upon her brow—

  “Thy heart’s desire is already thine; husband and son await thee now;

  Hie thee a-back to the Northland wild; thy love hath won thy noble cause,

  And honor thy earth-bound, mystic child with the deathless name of Santa Claus.”

  Now Sunbeam grasp’d her wings of light and pin’d them to her fairy form;

  Her pinions gleamed with radiance bright while earthward riding on the storm.

  Time waited now with yearning heart the safe returning of his bride.

  When he beheld, with sudden start, Aurora’s flood gates open wide:

  The sombre curtains of the night moved zephyr-like without a pause,

  Then ’neath an arch of crimson light Sunbeam appeared with Santa Claus.

  From icy gorge and crystal cave sweet fairy music fill’d the air,

  And Time a rapturous welcome gave and clasped with joy his new-found heir.

  From rocks and hills on every side mischievous elfs and fays were seen,

  Yet Santa Claus in their gambols vied and wish’d that he a child had been.

  Old Time replied in language mild when Santa Claus himself expressed:

  “Thou art my son, both man and child; through thee shall unborn babes be bless’d.”

  Across a chasm broad and deep, a pine-tree forest rear’d its head

  And foaming waters down the steep with thundering rush the torrent sped.

  Now Santa Claus beheld the land luxuriant with moss and fern.

  While Sunbeam called her elfin band and would from each their wishes learn:

  With one accord they all declared that they would through the forest roam,

  The thought of crossing, each one scared as they look’d below on the boiling foam.

  Sunbeam her magic wand display’d and waved it o’er the deep ravine;

  With gorgeous bands of light arrayed a rainbow bridge at once was seen;

  A shout of joy now fill’d the air and echo backward threw the sound,

  Ten thousand tiny feet were there who sought the bridge with magic bound.

  Now every one of all the band had safely cross’d the deep abyss;

  For greenwoods wild and forest land they left the ice-bound wilderness.

  Like pilgrims from a distant land safe settled on a friendly shore,

  They call’d together all the band and plan’d the country to explore.

  The fairies hushed their tinkling bells and all the little elfs obeyed;

  Deep silence reigned o’er hills and dells while they their newfound home survey’d.

  “This is a land of rare delights,” said Sunbeam, as she glanced around;

  “Such stream-cleft vales and mossy heights can nowhere on the earth be found;

  But are we sure that we can gain a title to this Paradise?

  Others no doubt have laid their claim—we cannot be the only wise.”

  Time listened to his wife’s address, and very sagely thus replied:

  “This is the land of happiness; its rights to none can be denied;

  The good of every land may come and claim a right on its domain,

  But guilt can never find a home; the pure alone can entrance gain.”

  Pale Twilight, daughter of the Moon, riding on the zephyrs came,

  And sleepy Night approaching soon bid every glow-worm raise his flame;

  Tired Nature now soon sank in rest, while Vigils hung their lamps in space—

  The night owls then began their quest among the new incoming race.

  Aurora, harbinger of day, aroused the band with music rare;

  The song birds tuned their morning lay and joy was present everywhere.r />
  They bathed them in the morning dews, from silvery streams their thirst allay’d,

  And Nectar, from the trees profuse, a banquet rare for each one made.

  Such was the home of Santa Claus, from whence the friend of childhood came;

  ’Twas here he framed his changeless laws and here began his deathless fame;

  His workshops here in sylvan dells surrounded by an elfin band;

  Here friendly fairies worked their spells and spread their joys throughout the land.

  The clefted rocks on the mountain side had left a league of mossy land

  Through which the silvery streamlets glide, with trees and shrubs on every hand;

  Now Santa Claus the land survey’d, before his parents laid his plan,

  And elfs and fays his word obey’d, and now his life-long work began;

  Nor axe nor plane, nor saw nor spade, nor tool of any kind had they.

  He therefore sought the fairies’ aid, and his request before them lay.

  The fairy queen her promise gave that all his needs would be supplied;

  “We’ll bear thee to the giant’s cave—naught that thou wish shall be denied.”

  They led him through a cavern deep, where glow-worm lamps were spread around,

  And there the giant fast asleep was quickly by the fairies bound;

  His axe and spear were at his feet, and all his tools about him lay,

  With these they made a safe retreat and sought once more the open day.

  They hied them to their chosen glade and there a solemn council held,

  And all their future plans were laid, and marked the trees that should be fell’d.

  Up through the vale with ponderous tread they quick beheld the giant’s form,

  The elfs and fays in terror sped, but naught could Santa Claus alarm;

  He on the fairy queen relied, who promised ever to defend,

  And when the giant be espied, he called upon his fairy friend.

  As quick as thought the fairy came and smote the giant as he stood;

  He fell beneath her faultless aim, and rising sought the distant wood.

  “Stay, tyrant, stay,” the fairy cried; “look in the stream—thy horns survey!

  A reindeer now on the mountain side, our Santa Claus thou shall obey.”

  They plucked the fronds of maiden hair and wove a girth and bridle strong,

  And led him to a new-made lair form’d by the elfins’ busy throng.

  Their labors now they could pursue, quite heedless of the giant’s will—

  A happier band none ever knew, nor purer hearts could pleasure thrill.

  So deftly every hand was plied in weaving moss with maiden hair;

  From this their garments were supplied and all their hangings rich and rare,

  With ivy strands from tree to tree and trailing woodbines trellised o’er.

  A prettier home you could not see—no human heart could wish for more.

  Nor wonder now that Santa Claus should with his labor be inspired;

  With elfs and fairies in his cause he’d make what every child desired;

  He cleft his wood in every form, and toys beneath his fingers grew,

  And colors every eye to charm from wings of butterflies he drew.

  The fairies always paint the toys, the elfs the whips and whistles make—

  The elfs, you know, are fairy boys, that’s why they this position take.

  Now, when the toys were all prepared, close packed in packages they lay,

  And all who in the labors shared began to look for Christmas-day.

  Then Santa Claus began to build a sleigh of mountain ash and oak,

  And every heart with wonder fill’d as fell his axe with measured stroke.

  Fairies nor elfs could give their aid in labor such as now was needed,

  So a visit to the reindeer paid, anxious to know how he succeeded.

  He toss’d his head in haughty pride as though he knew his wond’rous change,

  And had he not been safely tied he would across the mountains range.

  Now Santa Claus, his sleigh completed, with all the trappings tight and trim,

  And fays and fairies soon were seated, determined they would ride with him.

  The reindeer pranced while Santa Claus affixed the traces to the sleigh,

  Then started off without a pause, and o’er the mountains bent his way.

  O’er hills and vales, with lightning speed, the reindeer drew his load with ease,

  And all the elfin band agreed that they the fairy queen would please.

  And now they turned, their home to reach, all gladdened with their first attempt;

  Determined now the world to teach that youth should be from cares exempt;

  And Santa Claus agreed to do whate’er the faries should proclaim;

  Then they a solemn contract drew and Santa Claus affix’d his name:

  “I, Santa Claus, do here declare that I will make all sorts of toys

  And spread them broadcast everywhere at Christmas-tide among the boys;

  The girls shall have their skipping ropes, their cradles and all sorts of dolls,

  And bows and ties and scented soaps and croquet sets and tennis balls;

  With reindeer speed at night I’ll come and drop my presents down the flue,

  Then hie me back to my Northland home, and every year my ride renew.”

  Now Christmas-tide being near at hand, the fairy queen his workshop sought,

  Where Santa Claus and his elfin band the labors of the year had brought,

  “I sought thee here,” the fairy cried, “to place this charm upon thy breast,

  That when thou goest upon thy ride, thy every moment shall be blest;

  Fear not the rugged cliff nor vale, but press thee on with lightning speed;

  Against this charm naught can prevail, and joy shall crown thy every deed.”

  And now they formed a fairy ring while Santa Claus prepared his sleigh;

  Anxious, his airy flight to wing, the reindeer stood in trappings gay;

  The sleigh bells breathed their silvery notes and echo caught the magic sound;

  An elfin shout from a thousand throats, rang through the hills and vales around;

  But naught could stay his onward flight, for Christmas eve was close at hand,

  And all his presents, on that night, must be delivered through the land.

  Mrs. Kriss Kringle

  Edith M. Thomas

  Oh, I laugh to hear what grown folk

  Tell the young folk of Kriss Kringle,

  In the Northland, where unknown folk

  Love to feel the frost-wind tingle.

  Yes, I laugh to hear the grown folk

  Tell you young folk how Kriss Kringle

  Travels round the world like lone folk,

  None to talk with—always single!

  Would a grim and grave old fellow

  (Not a chick nor child to care for)

  Keep a heart so warm and mellow

  That all children he’d prepare for?

  Do you think, my little maiden,

  He could ever guess your wishes—

  That you’d find your stocking laden

  With a doll and set of dishes?

  No; the truth is, some one whispers

  In the ear he hears the best with,

  What to suit the youngest lispers,

  Boys and girls, and all the rest with.

  Some one (ah, you guess in vain, dear!)

  Nestled close by old Kriss Kringle,

  Laughs to see the prancing reindeer,

  Laughs to hear the sledge bells jingle.

  Dear old lady, small and rosy!

  In the nipping Christmas weather,

  Nestled close, so warm and cozy,

  These two chat, for hours together.

  Oh, her step is always lightest,

  And her smile is much the oddest,

  And her eye, by far the brightest,

  Spies t
he stocking howe’er modest.

  So, if I were in your places,

  Rob and Hal, and Kate and Mary,

  I would be in the good graces

  Of this lovely, shy old fairy.

  But I laugh to hear the grown folk

  Tell you young folk how Kriss Kringle

  Travels ’round the world, like lone folk,—

  None to talk with—always single!

  A Dear Little Schemer

  Mary Mapes Dodge

  There was a little daughter once, whose feet were—oh, so small!

  That when the Christmas eve came round, they wouldn’t do at all.

  At least she said they wouldn’t do, and so she tried another’s,

  And folding her wee stocking up, she slyly took her mother’s.

  “I’ll pin this big one here,” she said—then sat before the fire,

  Watching the supple, dancing flames, and shadows darting by her,

  Till silently she drifted off to that queer land, you know,

  Of “Nowhere in particular,” where sleepy children go.

  She never knew the tumult rare that came upon the roof!

  She never heard the patter of a single reindeer hoof;

  She never knew how Some One came and looked his shrewd surprise

  At the wee foot and the stocking—so different in size!

  She only knew, when morning dawned, that she was safe in bed.

  “It’s Christmas! Ho!” and merrily she raised her pretty head;

  Then, wild with glee, she saw what “dear old Santa Claus” had done,

  And ran to tell the joyful news to each and every one:

  “Mama! Papa! Please come and look! a lovely doll, and all!”

  And “See how full the stocking is! Mine would have been too small.

  I borrowed this for Santa Claus. It isn’t fair, you know,

  To make him wait forever for a little girl to grow.”

  The Little Christmas-Tree

  Susan Coolidge