[Illustration] A Defective Santa Claus [Illustration] A Defective Santa Claus JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY _With Pictures by_ C. M. RELYEA _and_ WILL VAWTER INDIANAPOLIS THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY PUBLISHERS Copyright 1904 James Whitcomb Riley * * * * * December PRESS OF BRAUNWORTH & CO. BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS BROOKLYN, N. Y. _DEDICATION_ _To_ HEWITT HANSON HOWLAND WITH HALEST CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND FRATERNAL _Little Boy! Halloo!--halloo! Can't you hear me calling you?-- Little Boy that used to be, Come in here and play with me._ A Defective Santa Claus [Illustration] A Defective Santa Claus Allus when our Pa he's away Nen Uncle Sidney comes to stay At our house here--so Ma an' me An' Etty an' Lee-Bob won't be Afeard ef anything at night Might happen--like Ma says it might. (Ef _Trip_ wuz _big_, I bet you he 'Uz best watch-dog you ever see!) An' so last winter--ist before It's go' be Chris'mus-Day,--w'y, shore Enough, Pa had to haf to go To 'tend a lawsuit--"An' the snow Ist right fer Santy Claus!" Pa said, As he clumb in old Ayersuz' sled, An' said he's sorry _he_ can't be With us that night--"'Cause," he-says-ee, "Old Santy _might_ be comin' here-- This very night of all the year [Illustration] [Illustration] _I'_ got to be away!--so all You kids must tell him--ef he call-- He's mighty welcome, an' yer Pa He left his love with you an' Ma An' Uncle Sid!" An' clucked, an' leant Back, laughin'--an' away they went! An' Uncle wave' his hands an' yells "Yer old horse ort to have on bells!" But Pa yell back an' laugh an' say "I 'spect when _Santy_ come this way It's time enough fer sleighbells nen!" An' holler back "Good-by!" again, An' reach out with the driver's whip An' cut behind an' drive back Trip. An' so all day it snowed an' snowed! An' Lee-Bob he ist watched the road, [Illustration] [Illustration] In his high-chair; an' Etty she U'd play with Uncle Sid an' me-- Like she wuz he'ppin' fetch in wood An' keepin' old fire goin' good, Where Ma she wuz a-cookin' there An' kitchen, too, an' ever'where! An' Uncle say, "'At's ist the way Yer Ma's b'en workin', night an' day, Sence she hain't big as Etty is Er Lee-Bob in that chair o' his!" Nen Ma she'd laugh 't what Uncle said, An' smack an' smoove his old bald head An' say "Clear out the way till I Can keep that pot from b'ilin' dry!" Nen Uncle, when she's gone back to The kitchen, says, "We _ust_ to do [Illustration] [Illustration] Some cookin' in the _ashes_.--_Say_, S'posin' we try some, thataway!" An' nen he send us to tell Ma Send two big 'taters in he saw Pa's b'en a-keepin' 'cause they got The premiun at the Fair. An' what You think?--He rake a grea'-big hole In the hot ashes, an' he roll Them old big 'taters in the place An' rake the coals back--an' his face Ist swettin' so's he purt'-nigh swear 'Cause it's so hot! An' when they're there 'Bout time 'at we fergit 'em, he Ist rake 'em out again--an' _gee_!-- He bu'st 'em with his fist wite on A' old stove-led, while Etty's gone [Illustration] [Illustration] To git the salt, an' butter, too-- Ist like he said she haf to do, No matter what _Ma_ say! An' so He salt an' butter 'em, an' blow 'Em cool enough fer us to eat-- An' _me_-o-_my_! they're hard to beat! An' Trip 'ud ist lay there an' pant Like he'd laugh _out loud_, but he can't. Nen Uncle fill his pipe--an' we 'Ud he'p him light it--Sis an' me,-- But mostly little Lee-Bob, 'cause "He's the best _Lighter_ ever wuz!" Like Uncle telled him wunst when Lee- Bob cried an' jerked the light from me, He wuz so mad! So Uncle pat An' pet him. (Lee-Bob's ust to that-- [Illustration] [Illustration] 'Cause he's the _little_-est, you know, An' allus has b'en humored so!) Nen Uncle gits the flat-arn out, An', while he's tellin' us all 'bout Old Chris'mus-times when _he's_ a kid, He ist cracked hickernuts, he did, Till they's a crockful, mighty nigh! An' when they're all done by an' by, He raked the red coals out again An' telled me, "Fetch that popcorn in, An' old three-leggud skillut--an' The _led_ an' all now, little man,-- An' yer old Uncle here 'ull show You how corn's popped, long years ago When me an' Santy Claus wuz boys On Pap's old place in Illinoise!-- [Illustration] [Illustration] An' your Pa, too, wuz chums, all through, With Santy!--Wisht Pa'd be here, too!" Nen Uncle sigh at Ma, an' she Pat him again, an' say to me An' Etty,--"You take warning fair!-- Don't talk too much, like Uncle there, Ner don't fergit, like _him_, my dears, That 'little pitchers has big ears!'" But Uncle say to her, "Clear out!-- Yer brother knows what he's about.-- _You_ git your Chris'mus-cookin' done Er these pore childern won't have none!" Nen Trip wake up an' raise, an' nen Turn roun' an' nen lay down again. An' one time Uncle Sidney say,-- "When dogs is sleepin' thataway, [Illustration] [Illustration] Like Trip, an' _whimpers_, it's a sign He'll ketch _eight_ rabbits--mayby _nine_-- Afore his fleas'll wake him--nen He'll bite hisse'f to sleep again An _try_ to dream he's go' ketch _ten_." An' when Ma's gone again back in The kitchen, Uncle scratch his chin An' say, "When Santy Claus an' Pa An' me wuz little boys--an' Ma, When she's 'bout big as Etty there;-- W'y,--'When we're _growed_--no matter _where_,' Santy he cross' his heart an' say,-- 'I'll come to see you, all, some day When _you'_ got childerns--all but me An' pore old Sid!'" Nen Uncle he Ist kindo' shade his eyes an' pour' [Illustration] [Illustration] 'Bout forty-'leven bushels more O' popcorn out the skillut there In Ma's new basket on the chair. An' nen he telled us--an' talk' low, "So Ma can't hear," he say:--"You know Yer _Pa_ know', when he drived away, Tomorry's go' be Chris'mus-_Day_;-- Well, nen _tonight_," he whisper, "see?-- It's go' be Chris'mus-_Eve_," says-ee, "An', like yer Pa hint, when he went, Old Santy Claus (now hush!) he's sent Yer Pa a postul-card, an' write He's shorely go' be here tonight.... That's why yer Pa's so bored to be _Away_ tonight, when Santy he Is go' be here, sleighbells an' all, [Illustration] [Illustration] To make you kids a Chris'mus-call!" An' we're so glad to know _fer shore_ He's comin', I roll on the floor-- An' here come Trip a-waller'n' roun' An' purt'-nigh knock the clo'eshorse down!-- An' Etty grab Lee-Bob an' prance All roun' the room like it's a dance-- Till Ma she come an' march us nen To dinner, where we're _still_ again, But _tickled_ so we ist can't eat But pie, an' ist the hot mincemeat With raisins in.--But _Uncle_ et, An' _Ma_. An' there they set an' set Till purt'-nigh supper-time; nen we Tell him he's got to fix the Tree 'Fore _Santy_ gits here, like he said. [Illustration] [Illustration] We go nen to the old woodshed-- All bundled up, through the deep snow-- "An' snowin' yet, _jee-rooshy-O_!" Uncle he said, an' he'p us wade Back where's the Chris'mus-Tree he's made Out of a little jackoak-top He git down at the sawmill-shop-- An' Trip 'ud run ahead, you know, An' 'tend-like he 'uz _eatin'_ snow-- When we all waddle back with it; An' Uncle set it up--an' git It wite in front the fireplace--'cause He says "'Tain't _so_ 'at Santy Claus Comes down _all_ chimblies,--least, tonight He's comin' in _this_ house all right-- By the front-door, as ort to be!-- [Illustration] [Illustration] We'll all be hid where we can _see_!" Nen he look up, an' he see Ma An' say, "It's ist too bad their _Pa_ Can't be here, so's to see the fun The childern _will_ have, ever' one!" Well, _we_!--We hardly couldn't wait Till it wuz dusk, an' dark an' late Enough to light the lamp!--An' Lee- Bob light a candle on the Tree-- "Ist _one_--'cause I'm 'The Lighter'!"--Nen He clumb on Uncle's knee again An' hug us _bofe_;--an' Etty git Her little chist an' set on it Wite clos't, while Uncle telled some more 'Bout Santy Claus, an' clo'es he wore "_All maked o' furs, an' trimmed as white_ [Illustration] [Illustration] _As cotton is, er snow at night_!" An' nen, all sudden-like, he say,-- "_Hush! Listen there! Hain't that a sleigh An' sleighbells jinglin'_?" Trip go "_whooh_!" Like _he_ hear bells an' _smell_ 'em, too. Nen we all listen.... An'-sir, shore Enough, we hear bells--more an' more A-jinglin' clos'ter--clos'ter still Down the old crook-road roun' the hill. An' Uncle he jumps up, an' all The chairs he jerks back by the wall An' th'ows a' overcoat an' pair O' winder-curtains over there An' says, "_Hide quick, er you're too late!-- Them bells is stoppin' at the gate!-- Git back o' them-'air chairs an' hide_, [Illustration] [Illustration] _'Cause I hear Santy's voice outside_!" An' _Bang! bang! bang!_ we heerd the door-- Nen it flewed open, an' the floor Blowed full o' snow--that's _first_ we saw, Till little Lee-Bob shriek' at Ma "_There's Santy Claus!--I know him by His big white mufftash!_"--an' ist cry An' laugh an' _squeal_ an' dance an' _yell_-- Till, when he quiet down a spell, Old Santy bow an' th'ow a kiss To him--an' one to me an' Sis-- An' nen go _clos't_ to Ma an' stoop An' kiss her--An' nen give a whoop That _fainted_ her!--'Cause when he bent An' kiss her, he ist backed an' went Wite 'ginst the Chris'mus-Tree ist where [Illustration] [Illustration] The candle's at Lee-Bob lit there!-- An' set his white-fur belt afire-- An' blaze streaked roun' his waist an' higher Wite up his old white beard an' th'oat!-- Nen Uncle grabs th' old overcoat An' flops it over Santy's head, An' swing the door wide back an' said, "Come out, old man!--an' _quick_ about It!--I've ist _got_ to put you out!" An' out he sprawled him in the snow-- "Now _roll_!" he says--"_Hi-roll-ee-O_!"-- An' Santy, sputter'n' "_Ouch! Gee-whiz!_" Ist roll an' roll fer all they is! An' Trip he's out there, too,--I know, 'Cause I could hear him yappin' so-- An' I heerd Santy, wunst er twic't, [Illustration] [Illustration] Say, as he's rollin', "_Drat the fice't_!" Nen Uncle come back in, an' shake Ma up, an' say, "Fer mercy-sake!-- He hain't hurt none!" An' nen he said,-- "You youngsters h'ist up-stairs to bed!-- Here! kiss yer Ma 'Good-night,' an' me,-- We'll he'p old Santy fix the Tree-- An' all yer whistles, horns an' drums I'll he'p you toot when morning comes!" * * * * * It's long while 'fore we go to sleep,-- 'Cause down-stairs, all-time somepin' keep A-kindo' scufflin' roun' the floors-- An' openin' doors, an' _shettin'_ doors-- An' could hear Trip a-whinin', too, Like he don't know ist _what_ to do-- [Illustration] [Illustration] An' tongs a-clankin' down _k'thump_!-- Nen some one squonkin' the old pump-- An' _Wooh!_ how cold it soun' out there! I could ist _see_ the pump-spout where It's got ice chin-whiskers all wet An' drippy--An' I see it yet! An' nen, seem-like, I hear some mens A-talkin' out there by the fence, An' one says, "Oh, 'bout twelve o'clock!" "Nen," 'nother'n says, "Here's to you, Doc!-- _God bless us ever' one_!" An' nen I heerd the old pump squonk again. An' nen I say my prayer all through Like Uncle Sidney learn' me to,-- "O Father mine, e'en as Thine own, This child looks up to Thee alone: [Illustration] [Illustration] Asleep or waking, give him still His Elder Brother's wish and will." An' that's the last I know.... Till Ma She's callin' us--an' so is _Pa_,-- He holler "_Chris'mus-gif'_!" an' say,-- "I'm got back home fer Chris'mus-Day!-- An' Uncle Sid's here, too--an' he Is nibblin' 'roun' yer Chris'mus-Tree!" Nen _Uncle_ holler, "I suppose Yer Pa's so proud he's froze his nose He wants to turn it up at us, 'Cause _Santy_ kick' up such a fuss-- Tetchin' hisse'f off same as ef He wuz his own fireworks hisse'f!" An' when we're down-stairs,--shore enough, Pa's nose _is_ froze an' salve an' stuff [Illustration] [Illustration] All on it--an' one hand's froze, too, An' got a old yarn red-and-blue Mitt on it--"An' he's froze some more Acrost his chist, an' kindo' sore All roun' his _dy_-fram," Uncle say.-- "But Pa he'd ort a-seen the way _Santy_ bear up last night when that- Air fire break out, an' quicker'n _scat_ He's all a-blazin', an' them-'air Gun-cotton whiskers that he wear Ist _flashin'_!--till I burn a hole In the snow with him, and he roll The front-yard dry as Chris'mus jokes Old parents plays on little folks! But, long's a smell o' tow er wool, I kep' him rollin' _beautiful_!-- [Illustration] [Illustration] Till I wuz _shore_ I _shorely_ see He's _squenched_! W'y, hadn't b'en fer _me_, That old man might a-burnt clear down Clean--plum'--level with the groun'!" Nen Ma say, "_There_, Sid; that'll do!-- Breakfast is ready--_Chris'mus_, too.-- Your voice 'ud soun' best, sayin' _Grace_-- Say it." An' Uncle bow' his face An' say so long a _Blessing_ nen, Trip bark' _two_ times 'fore it's "A-men!" [Illustration] [Illustration]