And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath:
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf;
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head.
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He

sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD

NOTE TO THE PUPIL. This is one of the most popular of all the English ballads. It was written about three hundred years

ago.

OW ponder well, you parents dear,

Now ponder well,

These words which I shall write:

A doleful story you shall hear,
In time brought forth to light.

A gentleman of good account
In Norfolk dwelt of late,
Who did in honor far surmount
Most men of his estate.

Sore sick he was, and like to die,
No help his life could save;
His wife by him as sick did lie.
And both possessed one grave.

No love between these two was lost,
Each was to the other kind;
In love they lived, in love they died,
And left two babes behind:

The one a fine and pretty boy,
Not passing three years old;
The other a girl more young than he,
And framed in beauty's mold.

The father left his little son,

As plainly did appear,

When he to perfect age should come,
Three hundred pounds a year.

And to his little daughter Jane
Five hundred pounds in gold,
To be paid down on marriage day,
Which might not be controlled.

But if the children chance to die
Ere they to age should come,
Their uncle should possess their wealth;
For so the will did run.

"Now, brother," said the dying man,

"Look to my children dear;

Be good unto my boy and girl,

No friends else have they here :

"To God and you I recommend
My children dear this day;
But little while be sure we have
Within this world to stay.

"You must be father and mother both, And uncle, all in one;

God knows what will become of them,
When I am dead and gone."

With that bespake their mother dear;

66

O brother kind,” quoth she,

"You are the man must bring our babes To wealth or misery.

"And if you keep them carefully,

Then God will you reward;

But if

you

otherwise should deal,

God will your deeds regard."

With lips as cold as any stone,

They kissed their children small; "God bless you both, my children dear!" With that the tears did fall.

These speeches then their brother spake To this sick couple there:

"The keeping of your little ones, Sweet sister, do not fear;

"God never prosper me nor mine,
Nor aught else that I have,
If I do wrong your children dear
When you are laid in grave."

The parents being dead and gone,
The children home he takes,

And brings them straight unto his house,
Where much of them he makes.

He had not kept these pretty babes
A twelvemonth and a day,
But, for their wealth, he did devise
To make them both away.

He bargained with two ruffians strong,
Which were of furious mood,

That they should take these children young,
And slay them in a wood.

He told his wife an artful tale;
He would the children send
To be brought up in London town
With one that was his friend.

Away then went those pretty babes,

Rejoicing at that tide,

Rejoicing with a merry mind

That they should on a cockhorse ride.

They prate and prattle pleasantly,
As they rode on the way,

To those that should their butchers be
And work their lives' decay;

So that the pretty speech they had
Made murder's heart relent;
And they that undertook the deed
Full sore did now repent.

Yet one of them, more hard of heart,
Did vow to do his charge,
Because the wretch that hired him
Had paid him very large.

The other won't agree thereto,
So there they fall to strife;
With one another they did fight
About the children's life.

And he that was of mildest mood
Did slay the other there,
Within an unfrequented wood;

The babes did quake with fear!

He took the children by the hand,
Tears standing in their eye,
And bade them straightway follow him,

And look they did not cry;

And two long miles he led them on,

66

While they for food complain;

Stay here," quoth he, "I'll bring you bread,
When I come back again."

L