JOHN ALDEN AND PERCILLY.

We got up a Christmas-doin's

Last Christmas Eve —

Kindo’ dimonstration

‘ At I railly believe

Give more satisfaction —

Take it up and down —

Than ary intertainment

Ever come to town!

Railly was a theater —

That's what it was,—

But, bein’ in the church, you know,

We had a “Santy Clause” —

So‘ s to git the old folks

To patternize, you see,

And back the institootion up

Kindo’ morally.

Schoolteacher writ the thing —

( Was a friend o’ mine ),

Got it out o’ Longfeller's

Pome “Evangeline” —

Er some'rs —‘ bout the Purituns —.

Anyway, the part

“John Alden” fell to me —

And learnt it all by heart!

Claircy was “Percilly” —

( Schoolteacher‘ lowed

Me and her could act them two

Best of all the crowd ) —

Then — blame ef he did n't

Git her Pap, i jing!—

To take the part o’ “Santy Clause,”

To wind up the thing.

Law! the fun o’ practisun!—

Was a week er two

Me and Claircy did n't have

Nothin’ else to do!—

Kep’ us jes a-meetin’ round,

Kindo’ here and there,

Ever’ night rehearsin’ - like,

And gaddin’ ever'where!

Game was wo'th the candle, though!—

Christmas Eve at last

Rolled around.— And‘ tendance jes

Could n't been surpassed!—

Neighbors from the country

Come from Clay and Rush —

Yes, and‘ crost the county-line

Clean from Puckerbrush!

Meetin’ - house jes trimbled

As “Old Santy” went

Round amongst the childern,

With their pepperment

And sassafrac and wintergreen

Candy, and “a ball

O’ popcorn,” the preacher‘ nounced,

“Free fer each and all!”

Schoolteacher suddently

Whispered in my ear,—

“Guess I got you:— Christmas-gift!—

Christmas is here!”

I give him a gold pen,

And case to hold the thing,—

And Claircy whispered “Christmas-gift!”

And I give her a ring.

“And now,” says I, “jes watch me —

Christmas-gift,” says I,

“I'm a-goin’ to git one —

‘ Santy's’ comin’ by!” —

Then I rech and grabbed him:

And, as you'll infer,

‘ Course I got the old man's,

And he gimme her!