WHAT “OLD SANTA” OVERHEARD

‘ Tis said old Santa Claus one time

Told this joke on himself in rhyme:

One Christmas, in the early din

That ever leads the morning in,

I heard the happy children shout

In rapture at the toys turned out

Of bulging little socks and shoes —

A joy at which I could but choose

To listen enviously, because

I'm always just “Old Santa Claus,” —

But ere my rising sigh had got

To its first quaver at the thought,

It broke in laughter, as I heard

A little voice chirp like a bird,—

“Old Santa's mighty good, I know.

And awful rich — and he can go

Down ever’ chimbly anywhere

In all the world!— But I do n't care,

I would n't trade with him, and be

Old Santa Clause, and him be me,

Fer all his toys and things!— and I

Know why, and bet you he knows why!—

They wuz no Santa Clause when he

Wuz ist a little boy like me!”