THE WAKEFUL ELF

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21529, 16 December 1939, Page 24 (Supplement)

THE WAKEFUL ELF

On a Christmas Eve An elf awoke From a heavy sleep In a forest oak. Reindeer bells all gaily ringing In his sleepy ears were singing. He stretched and rubbed his eyes; He stared in wild surprise. What could It be right under his tree? He peered from his pretty round window to see. Twas a marvellous sight for a little tree elf, And he smiled with glee in spite of himself. Now every branch Of every tree Was covered white As snow could be. And all the glades of the forest lay Clothed in a mantle whiter than May; And under the tree a reindeer sleigh Glided along its merry way, With Jingling harness and tinkling bell And pretty snowflakes that gently fell. A dear old gentleman bearded white, Rosy-faced, eyes shining bright, Was driving with ease and comely grace A noble reindeer of nimble pace. “I must go with them,” said elfin wee, And lightly leapt from the forest tree.

Softly he slipped from the friendly I oak Right into the folds of a furry ! cloak.

He gripped it tightly, this elfin bold; But shivered and shook, for the wind was cold. Then closer he crept, till, would you believe? He was right inside the old gentleman’s sleeve; And there he lay both warm and snug, Like a little brown mouse in a bearskin rug, Till the reindeer stopped, and the old man rose With a bag on his back and a smile round his nose. He seemed to rise with an easy motion, Then smoothly fall like a wave of the ocean. The little wee elf took a wondering peep, And there lay a sweet little girl asleep. But Father Christmas had seen his face, And taking him out of his hiding place, With a movement quick, and a sudden spin, He opened a stocking, and popped him in. It was warm and cosy and cumfy there. Right in the arms of a woolly bear, And so he stayed until Christmas day Called little children from sleep to i Play. An eager hand took the stocking ' down. And head over heels on his tiny | crown Into the folds of the bed he came; |

A little girl lovingly called his name: “O daddy! O mummy! a tiny elf! Really my own and all for myself.” She took him gently, and held him, then Hugged him and kissed him again and again. And there he lived for many a day; But when summer came, in the garden gay, By a tiny lake with its golden fish. And its fountain clear, and its amber dish, Where the birdlings bathed and drank their fill; Where all was music—so sweet—so still. He lived, nor longed for his forest tree, For the garden fairies came in glee, And his elfin brothers came to see His garden home, and with ha! ha! he! They danced around both low and high Till the stars declared they must say goodbye, And the sun arose, and the night passed by.

I The scene was the interior of a I saloon in the Far West, and round the table were gathered as tough a gang as could be found in California. The game was fast and furious,. the stakes were high. | Suddenly the dealer flung his cards on the table, and threateningly drew his six-gun. “Boys,” he said, “the game ain’t a straight one! Slippery Sam ain’t playing the hand I dealt him.”