Читать книгу Boys and Girls. The Verses of James W. Foley онлайн

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An’ the overseer told him that his fambly was too large

To remember orfunt children; so I ast Ma couldn’t we

Have Bill Peeble up to our house, so’s to see our Christmas tree.

An’ she ast me if he’s dirty; an’ I said I guessed he was,

But I didn’t think it makes no difference with Santa Claus.

My his clo’es was awful ragged! Ma, she put him in a tub

An’ she poured it full of water, an’ she gave him such a scrub

’At he ’ist set there an’ shivered; an’ he told me afterwurds

’At he never washed all over out to Overseer Bird’s!

’En she burned his ragged trousies an’ she gave him some of mine;

My! she rubbed him an’ she scrubbed him till she almost made him shine,

Nen he ’ist looked all around him like he’s scairt for quite a w’ile,

An’ even w’en Ma’d pat his head he wouldn’t hardly smile.

’En after w’ile Ma took some flour-sacks an’ ’en she laid

’Em right down at the fireplace, ’ist ’cause she is afraid

Santa Claus ’ll soil the carpet when he comes down there, you know;

An’ Billy Peeble watched her, an’ his eyes stuck out—’ist so!