than the old fellow himself. In a moment we heard the old man accost ing him, apparently improvising as near as we can remember a rhyme like the following: Well, if there isn't Santa Claus, jolly old fellow, How you manage to keep yourself looking so well: Why! where have you been since the last time we saw you, Come, Nicholas Sanctus, and tell us the way You've spent all your time since the last Christmas day; And we cannot divine how you ever keep easy, Through all the long year between Christmas and Christmas, We'd all like to ask, funnyissimus Santa, The world as you ride to your merry bells' sound? Your eyes, and so free is your face from a wrinkle, We are right glad to see you-but Santa, in truth. Step up and cut off and distribute around The pretty things which in profusion are found Suspended by you from the boughs of that tree, Come, Santa Claus, though we're reluctant to hurry You up, yet we are in somewhat of a flurry, To know what the presents you've gathered to please us Santa took it all in most merry mood, and capered about, jabbering and joking, for he was a witty rascal, till the old man straightened out his stiff back as well as he could, and hobbling along on his staff led St. Nick by the hand toward the tree, and requested him once more, to fulfill his mission. 66 This he did to the infinite amusement and satisfaction of all present; giving nice things, and pretty things, and funny things to 'young men and maidens, old men and children” abundantly. Delightful it was to see the man of business bidding the carking cares of life begone, and in place of their ugly faces, and those of men toil-dried and withered and wrinkled before their time, looking upon the cheerful faces of happy friends, and freed for a time from all that could make life's wheels drag heavily. To see the Rev. minister and D. D. with the spiritual welfare of multitudes for their care, moving gladly around, as if boyhood had come again, amid the laugh and joke and brisk repartee, themselves laughing and clapping their hands as gleefully as the youngest there. This was a Christmas jubilee! To this succeeded a series of the happiest gatherings, during holiday week, whereat the soberest laughed and the merriest were wild with glee, yet withal, methodical in their wildness. And at last when the cup of our enjoyments seemed brimming full, another was suddenly added which crowned the "beakers brim" with overflowing pleasure. For two or three days before 1850 took its leave, two of our number might have been seen now earnestly conversing, now laughing out as at some exceedingly happy thought, now clapping their hands and capering about most gleefully. Sometimes, it was rumored, the small hours of morning would surprise them at their confabs. Yet to all, save one or two whose aid they seemed to need and with whom they were plainly in conspiracy, the why and wherefore of all this was wrapped in mystery. On the last day of the old year, invitations were received by the participants in the week's festivities and others, to assemble, and “watch the old year out and the new one in." Here was a new idea-what did it mean? what was to happen? The evening came and with it the happy group, unwearied and unsatiated by their past enjoyments. Varied entertainments, extempore and full of life, jokes, reminiscences, burlesque oratory, readings, &c., led the way and made all oblivious of the flight of time. Meanwhile the hours were one after another tolled from the mantel clock, 9, 10, 11, till a single stroke announced the beginning of the last half hour of the year. The mysterious interlocutors in the midnight dialogues we have mentioned, had disappeared, and were seen no more, at least in propriis personis, till the scenes I shall describe had changed from passing facts to memories. Ten minutes yet remained of that memorable half century, now de parted, when the folding doors, which had some time before been quietly closed, were rolled aside, and all unexpectedly appeared, sitting cosily side by side, an aged couple, whom we learned were John Anderson and his loving spouse. Old age was again before us; though we thought we could now and then detect beneath the blossoms of the almond tree the lineaments of John as he might have been when he was a smooth faced youth. Perhaps he might at such moments have been living over again some scenes of boyish pleasure, and hence, for the time appeared to be a boy again. However, the dear old couple feebly talked together for a brief season of their sorrows and joys in years gone by, and soon in the tremulous accents of age, her hand upon his arm, and doating ́through her spectacled eyes upon his aged form, we heard the guidwife singing, "John Anderson my Jo John," and as she proceeded, most affecting was that pious prayer "Yet blessings on your frosty pow, Then John lovingly faltered in reply, And ye waur ance, my guidwife, Sae loed and sae caressed, The posy, buddin' i' the vale That blossomed on my breast. You're bonny hues hae faded, But I'll nae tak' it ill, I've loed ye lang and whiles ye live Then the two sang how they Their last quivering tones had but just died away, when groans, as of some suffering one, were heard, and turning we beheld the emaciated, bent and tottering form of the OLD YEAR toiling along on his last earthly pilgrimage. We felt that it was to his grave. Inexorable Time had given him his hour glass, as if to warn him of his end, and the sands He labored wearily were swiftly numbering his last departing moments. along till, nearing John Anderson, he drew the old man's attention, who improvised again, Wha' maun ye be my totterin' friend? Ye're auld and sae am I, Our lives seem drawin' to their end, I think we soon maun die. Alack! my guid auld frien', methinks My ain auld heart in sorrow shrinks That soon shall o'er all bosoms roll A grief sae deep and sair, For when the midnight bell shall toll We ne'er may see thee mair. And wha's to come and tak' your place? Some triflin', young, ungodly case We shall nae want to see! But frien' your time has come at last! Just then the cock crew, and the clock began to tell the midnight hour, while the old man continued, I heard the crowin' cock, One, two, three, four, the bell strikes fast, Farewell, 'tis twelve o'clock; and with the last word the Old Year had vanished from our view. And opposite to the place of his exit, while the old man said— "Who cometh to the door? There's a new foot on the floor, my dear, And a new face at the door, my dear, A new face at the door," in came dancing in highest glee the Happy New Year! singing I'll be hindered no more! Ope the door, Clear the floor! For I come with the merriest cheer, And give me a chance To prance And to dance, For I am the Happy New Year! Here entered a maiden prettily attired as spring, while the New Year gaily sang Another followed in white and beautifully wreathed with flowers that looked most sweetly fragrant; this was Summer, and the New Year sang, greeting her: And Summer anon Shall don Bright garlands of prettiest posies, And her raiment of white Shall be bright With the light That is born in the bosom of roses. Then came Autumn, clad in habiliments of sadder hue, and bearing sheaves of ripe grasses and grains, whom the New Year welcomed, singing: Queenly Autumn shall fill Each dell And hill With the richest and fullest fruition, And shall freely outpour All her store Before She shall fully accomplish her mission. Lastly, Winter came heavily clad with furs, and the New Year gave a hearty welcome, with: her Then the New Year and his attendant Seasons, quickly forming in a lively procession, joined in a final chorus, to the tune Crambambuli, |
