Life — December 26, 1895 — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- LIFE: A CHRISTMAS MEMORY. Pa he bringed me here to stay “Tel my Ma she’s well.—An’ nen He's go’ hitch up, Chris'mus-day, An’ come take me back again Wher’ my Ma's at! Won't I be Tickled when he comes fer me ! si A‘nty allus calls me ‘* Dear,” st lets me romp an‘ run An’ don’t never scold me none Like sometimes she ust to do When my Ma she be here, too. An’, when he ‘uz kissin’ me My good-night, his check’s all wet An’ taste salty, DID THE RIGHT THING, AFTER ALL. AM ashamed of you, my dear, laughing at those risqué stories of Mrs. De French, You would better have blushed.” “But, mamma, if I had blushed, it would have shown that I understood them.” AN APPROPRIATE SETTING. OW much does your Christmas turkey weigh “Only two pounds, old man, but it’s a find bird.” “How are you going to have it? On toast?” ILLIE: You'll have to wait a moment before you go into the parlor. FEATHERSTO: Anyone else there ? “Only sister. She's hanging up some mistletoe over the sofa.” My Ma an’ my A‘nty they "Uz each-uvvers sisters. Pa— A‘nty telled me, th’ other di He comed here an’ married Ma A‘nty said nen ** Go run play, I must work now !",..An’ I saw. When she turn’ her face away, She ‘uz’ cryin’, —An’ nen I "Tend-like I “ran play "= an’ cry. This-here house o” Aunty’s wher’ They ‘uz borned—my Ma an’ her !— An’ her Ma ‘uz my Ma’s Ma, An’ her Pa 'uz my Ma’s Pa— Ain’t that funny 2—An’ they're dead : An’ this-here’s ** Th’ ole Homestead.” — An’ my A'nty said, an’ cried, It's mine, too, ef my Ma died— Don’t know what she mean—‘cause my Ma she’s nuver go’ to die ! When Pa bringed me here ‘t'uz night— *Way dark night! An’ A’nty spread Me a piece—An’ light the light An’ say I must go to bed.— l cry not to—but Pa said ** Be good boy now, like you telled Mommy ‘at you're go’ to be !”” An’, when he ‘uz kissin’ me My good-night, his cheek’s all wet An’ taste salty=-An’ he held Wite close to me an’ rocked some An’ laughed-like—‘tel A'’nty come Git me while he's rockin’ yet. A‘nty he'p me, ’tel T be Purt’-nigh strip-pud—nen hug me In bofe arms an’ lif’ me ‘way Up in her high bed—an’ pray Wiv me,—'Bout my Ma—an’ Pa— An’ ole Santy Claus— an’ Sleigh— An’ Reindeers an’ little drum— Yes, an’ Picture-books, ‘t Tom Thumb,” " “Three Bears,” an’ ole ‘* Fee- Faw"— Yes. an’ ‘ Tweedle-Dee" an’ Dum,” An’ **White Knight” an’ ** Squid- jicum,”” An’ 'most things you ever saw !— An’ when A'nty kissed me, she "Uz alll cryin’ over me! * © © & &© © @ 8 8 Don't want Santy Claus—nerthings Anykind he ever brings !: Don’t want A'nty !—don’t want Pa !— ist only want my Ma! James Whitcomb Riley. comicbooks.com