A LITTLE CHRISTMAS BASKET

De win’ is hollahin’ “Daih you” to de shuttahs an’ de fiah,

De snow's a-sayin’ “Got you” to de groun’,

Fu’ de wintah weathah‘ s come widout a-askin’ ouah desiah,

An’ he‘ s laughin’ in his sleeve at whut he foun’;

Fu’ dey ai n't nobody ready wid dey fuel er dey food,

An’ de money bag look timid lak, fu’ sho’,

So we want ouah Chrismus sermon, but we‘ d lak it ef you could

Leave a little Chrismus basket at de do’.

Wha‘ s de use o’ tellin’ chillen‘ bout a Santy er a Nick,

An’ de sto'ies dat a body allus tol’?

When de harf is gray wid ashes an’ you has n't got a stick

Fu’ to warm dem when dey little toes is col’?

Wha‘ s de use o’ preachin’‘ ligion to a man dat's sta'ved to def,

An’ a-tellin’ him de Mastah will pu'vide?

Ef you want to tech his feelin's, save yo’ sermons an’ yo’ bref,

Tek a little Chrismus basket by yo’ side.

‘ T ai n't de time to open Bibles an’ to lock yo’ cellah do’,

‘ T ai n't de time to talk o’ bein’ good to men;

Ef you want to preach a sermon ez you nevah preached befo’,

Preach dat sermon wid a shoat er wid er hen;

Bein’ good is heap sight bettah den a-dallyin’ wid sin,

An’ dey ai n't nobody roun’ dat knows it mo’,

But I t'ink dat‘ ligion‘ s sweeter w'en it kind o’ mixes in

Wid a little Chrismus basket at de do’.