Classic Poem

I WRITED a letter to Santa Claus and give it to ma to read,
And when she was through she laughs and says, “My darling, you do not need
Half of the things you have put down here—had n't you better do
It over again before we send it on up the chimbley flue?”
She ast me that, but I 'm sure she knows
(As well as a mother can)
That Santa Claus is what pa calls
A very lib-er-ul man.
And when we send him our letters each year, the biggest things always lead;
We ask for the things that we want, we do, and not for the things we need!

I writed that letter to Santa Claus, and writed it plain as I could;
I asked for an ottormobile and a dog, and a tent and some scroll-saw wood;
A 'lectric car and a pony cart, like Jimmy Jones got last year;
A gun and a ring and a sled—and some skates, and two of his best reindeer.
When pa read my letter over he says,
“Are you sure you have n't forgot
Something you want? There 's no request
In this for a house and lot!
I feel kinder sorry for Santa Claus and his ever-willing steed—
You 've asked for the things you want, that 's plain—and not for the things you need!”

Then I writed another to Santa and said, “The list that I jest now sent
May be too big, my father says—at least that is what he meant;
So if you are poor and have n't enough to go around, just leave out
The skates—I have got three old pair here, and they will last no doubt.”
I showed it to pa, and he says, “My son
That 's truly kind of you;
Santa appreciates unselfish boys—
And I fear there are very few.”
Then he smiled at ma, and she says, “Never mind; he is a good man, indeed;
He 'll bring you this year the things you want—and next year the things you need!”