Santa Claus’ Assistants

DID you ever wonder, children dear,How Santa always knowsJust what to bring you Christmas Eve?Did you for once supposeHe comes around throughout the yearTo watch the girls and boysAnd find out what they want the mostIn the way of dolls and toys?

Ah, no indeed! Old Santa isA very busy elf,And has no time to go aroundAnd find out for himself;And so he sends his son—what’s that?You think that isn’t true?Oh, yes! He has a little son,And a little daughter too!

This little son, when Christmas timeDraws nearer, day by day,Goes driving all around the worldIn a tiny golden sleigh.’Tis drawn by twenty wee white mice;And, scampering o’er the ground,They stop at every chamber whereA good boy’s to be found.

“And tells what toys those boys have got,And what he thinks they need.”

And then young Santie skips aboutAnd peeps in every nookWhere toys are kept; and scans them all,Each top, ball, bat, or book;Examines all the sleds and skates,And when one’s worn or oldHe writes it down on a crystal slateWith a pencil made of gold.

Then back he drives to Santa ClausAt the greatest rate of speed,And tells what toys these boys have gotAnd what he thinks they need.So Santa’s workmen make the things,And pack them in his sleigh,All ready for his midnight rideOn the eve of Christmas Day.

But Santa’s daughter! My! oh, my!How she does travel round!From north to south or east to west,Where good little girls are found.Her sleigh is made of glistening frost,And whew! How she does go!For she drives a hundred whirling flakesOf the purest, whitest snow.

She visits rooms of little girls,And hunts around to seeIf she’d better order another dollTo hang on the Christmas-tree.She rummages through the bureau drawers,The closets, and everywhere,To see what things like gloves and lace,Or trinkets, are needed there.

So, children, bear this fact in mind,That Santa Claus has spiesWho watch you all, throughout the year,With sharp, all-seeing eyes;And if you’re naughty, those who driveThe snowflakes and the miceWill simply peep inside your roomAnd scoot off in a trice!