s-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!--

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[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,

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[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'

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[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,

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