Old SANTECLAUS with much delight
His reindeer drives this frosty night,
O’er chimney-tops, and tracks of snow,
To bring his yearly gifts to you.
The steady friend of virtuous youth,
The friend of duty, and of truth,
Each Christmas eve he joys to come
Where love and peace have made their home.
Through many houses he has been,
And various beds and stockings seen;
Some, white as snow, and neatly mended,
Others, that seemed for pigs intended.
Where e’er I found good girls or boys,
That hated quarrels, strife and noise,
I left an apple, or a tart,
Or wooden gun, or painted cart.
To some I gave a pretty doll,
To some a peg-top, or a ball;
No crackers, cannons, squibs, or rockets,
To blow their eyes up, or their pockets.
No drums to stun their Mother’s ear,
Nor swords to make their sisters fear;
But pretty books to store their mind
With knowledge of each various kind.
But where I found the children naughty,
In manners rude, in temper haughty,
Thankless to parents, liars, swearers,
Boxers, or cheats, or base tale-bearers,
I left a long, black, birchen rod,
Such as the dread command of God
Directs a Parent’s hand to use
When virtue’s path his sons refuse.
(Clement Clarke Moore)
More Poetry from Clement Clarke Moore:
Clement Clarke Moore Poems based on Topics: Night, Snow, Anger, Truth, Friendship, Children, Youth, Fear, Parents, Home, God- The Pig and the Rooster (Clement Clarke Moore Poems)
- A Visit from St. Nicholas (Clement Clarke Moore Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: God Poems, Night Poems, Youth Poems, Friendship Poems, Home Poems, Fear Poems, Truth Poems, Anger Poems, Snow Poems, Children Poems, Duty PoemsBased on Keywords: crackers, reindeer, cheats, birchen, squibs, chimney-tops, boxers, swearers, santeclaus, peg-top
- Belphegor Addressed To Miss De Chammelay (Jean de La Fontaine Poems)
- The Pastoral, Or Lyric Muse Of Scotland. Canto Second (Hector MacNeill Poems)
- An Oriental Apologue (James Russell Lowell Poems)
- 'Look at The Clock!' : Patty Morgan The Milkmaid's Story (Richard Harris Barham Poems)
- Rachel (John Lawson Stoddard Poems)