Far away in a home that I know,

Of the dear little girls at the window,

And the boys out at play in the snow;

Of the stockings hung up at the chimney,

Of the little hearts hopeful and glad;

And thus I kept thinking and thinking,

Until I grew homesick and sad.

So I turned my eyes out on the landscape,

As my thoughts were unwilling to go,

And I saw ’round the curve of a hillock

Three ponies come, white as the snow;

A sleigh next appeared and a driver,

Oh! my heart beat so fast then—because,

As he drew up the reins at the door-step,

I found it was old Santa Claus.

Such shaking of hands and such greetings

I fear I shall nevermore see;

For every big doll in his wagon

Was looking and laughing at me.

“No minutes to lose,” said old Santa,

“I’ve hundreds of miles yet to go.

Will you please to partake of my journey,

And gallop with me o’er the snow?”

No sooner than said I was seated,

All ’round me he folded the fur.

He made a loose rein for the ponies,

And urged them with whip and with spur.

Away and away o’er the country

We flew like the glances of light,

Down streets that were blazing with bonfires,

On, on through the snow and the night.

Then all of a sudden he halted

And two pretty faces beside her,

A pillow of straw almost hid,

But the little hands looked as if frozen

That lay on the patched cover-lid.

A snow-cloud had sifted its samples,

Of eider-down over their feet,

And a star, looking in through the shingles,

Was spreading o’er them a bright sheet.

Old Santa had lost not a moment.

A cedar tree suddenly sprung

Into life just in front of the children,

With pop-corn and bright ribbons strung.

Some tiny wax candles were lighted,

To chase off the thoughts of the night;

And the dollies had met in the tree-top

To dance in their dresses of white.

A kite that could climb into cloud-land

Hung low, and a new picture-book;

A street-car “wound up” for its journey,

And a little boat built for the brook.

Oh! all kinds of candy he left them

That ever I tasted, or you;

And under the tree there were apples

And peanuts—a bucket or two.

He built them a fire, and dresses

Were left, made of flannel so warm;

And, with many nice greetings and wishes,

We galloped away through the storm.

Away, and away sped the ponies,

So fast that none could o’ertake—

So fast (it was told me this morning),

But soon at a homestead we halted,

Old Santa said I must alight,

To see if the children were sleeping,

And leave them whatever was right.

So I crept to the casement—it opened,

And I saw what I ne’er shall forget—

Those darlings there slumbering sweetly,

The thoughts of the night-fall had met.

We gave them all kinds of nice presents,

What they were, it is useless to say;

For they’ve found them and now are rejoicing,

And happy this glad holiday.

So children, be kind to each other,

Be gentle and loving—because

I may be invited next Christmas

To gallop with old Santa Claus.