_'Tis said old Santa Claus one time_
_Told this joke on himself in rhyme:_
One Christmas, in the early din
That ever leads the morning in,
I heard the happy children shout
In rapture at the toys turned out
Of bulging little socks and shoes--
A joy at which I could but choose
To listen enviously, because
I'm always just "Old Santa Claus,"--
But ere my rising sigh had got
To its first quaver at the thought,
It broke in laughter, as I heard
A little voice chirp like a bird,--
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"Old Santa's mighty good, I know.
And awful rich--and he can go
Down ever' chimbly anywhere
In all the world!--But I don't care,
_I_ wouldn't trade with _him_, and be
Old Santa Clause, and him be me,
Fer all his toys and things!--and _I_
Know why, and bet you _he_ knows why!--
They _wuz_ no Santa Clause when _he_
Wuz ist a little boy like me!"
[Illustration: What "Old Santa" overheard--tailpiece]
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