The Alphabet a meeting held
As Christmas time drew near,
And voted each a gift to bring
To please the children dear.
"They try so hard," the letters said,
"To learn us by our names;
We'll give them presents, everyone,
Of candy, balls, and games."
So Christmas eve they one and all
Came, bringing in high glee
Their presents large and presents small
To hand upon the tree.
A brought an apple, round and red,
And B, a bouncing ball;
While C a bag of candy gave-
Enough to feed them all.
D carried in his arms a doll
With shining, golden hair,
And E, a cotton elephant
Came bringing with great care.
F had a fan from far Japan,
And G a funny game;
H boldly rode a hobby-horse,
A racer of great fame.
I held an inkstand in his hand,
"A useful thing," he said;
J waved on high a jumping-jack,
All painted black and red.
K thought a kite the proper thing;
A lamb L held aloft;
M's present was a little muff
Of fur so warm and soft!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let's take a brief interlude here to bring you up close and personal with one of our cast of characters.
Remember the beautiful doll that D carried in his arms? She looks pretty good for being over 100 years old, don't you think?
She once belonged to my Dad's sister and she has weathered many a storm over these past 100 years, and like all of us who are growing older, she tried to play up her best attributes and make allowances for the flaws that she feels are beginning to show.
How she accomplishes this is, not with creams or any type of new age potions, but, simply, by wearing a bonnet, because you see...
...in 1989, while living in the bay area, we endured a 7.6 earthquake. There was a lot of damage from falling objects in our home. In the dining room there was a plate rail encircling the room with many antique dishes that we had collected over the years. When the earthquake hit, this beautiful doll, who had survived, I'm sure, many a turmoil up to that point, was sitting in her buggy, the one she still sits in today, under that plate rail.
As the dishes came down, one by one, some landed on her head and split it open. I was able to salvage some larger pieces and glued them back, but she is destined to go through the rest of her life wearing a bonnet.
Now, back to the Alphabet's Christmas Tree...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
N proudly bore a Noah's Ark,
Filled up with creatures queer;
O felt that yellow oranges
Would bring the best of cheer.
"A purse," said P "will look so well
Up there on the tree",
Q bought a quilt for dolly's crib-
A thoughtful Q was he.
R gave a pretty ruby ring
With sparkling deep-red glow;
S dragged along a brand-new sled
To coast upon the snow.
Loudly upon a trumpet blew
The valiant letter T;
U held a strange umbrella up,
Unfurled for all to see.
A dainty vase V's gift appeared,
Of crystal glass so clear;
"A whip," said lively W,
"Is handy to have near."
But X's present was so large
He sent it by express,
And what was in it no one knew,
Although they tried to guess.
Y had a gaily painted yacht
With every part complete;
Z bore a zither, "which" he said,
"Would furnish music sweet."
How merrily the children dance
Around the tree next day;
While safe within the primer all
The little letters lay!
Diantha W. Horne
St. Nicholas, January 1906
I apologize to whomever remembers some of these repeated pictures from last year. Some pictures are new and I came across this little children's poem in an old book. I hope you all enjoy it.
...Judy...
Thank you, Sandi, at Rose Chintz Cottage for featuring my little white truck on your post from last week. I am honored to be among the beautiful features that you chose.
I am sharing this little bit of Christmas with the following parties:
