Oklahoma Sunshine Part 27

Signs of Winter.

Winter's comin', fellers!

Blizzards soon'll blow!

Cotton all is gethered,-- Money spent, ye know!

Ole Thanksgivin's over,-- Weather's so and so, Kids a-lookin' Christmas Everywhayre ye go!

Keep Them Alive.

Keep Hope alive! Though failure comes Adown life's varied stream, Behold, joy beats her mighty drums And brave men toil and dream!

Keep Faith alive! Though evil strays Across the paths you tread, Yet Goodness blesses all your ways,-- The living and the dead!

Keep Love alive! Though burdens press And crush with anguish sore, Sweet Love shall crown with happiness The sad heart evermore!

Little Sermons.

Nothing takes a man down so much as to contrast what he is with what he meant to be.

Some people are so sure they are going to miss h.e.l.l in the hereafter that they proceed to make as much as possible while in this world.

We don't know what Satan's steady occupation is, but if all reports are true he must saw lots of wood in order to keep up the fires in his settlement all the year 'round.

The Christmas Fiddles.

I.

Tune up the Christmas fiddles! There's happiness about, And willing fingers waiting to coax the music out!

There's music in the valley, there's music on the plain, And music in the measures of happy sun and rain; Then fix your fiddles, fellers! The music fond and sweet Is waiting,--waiting ever,--the music of the feet!

II.

Tune up the Christmas fiddles! The royal raptures flow From finger-tips of gladness to happy heel and toe, Till joyous hearts are beating and rosy lips of love Are sweet as fairy music from the heaven harps above!

Then fix your fiddles, fellers! To match the merry sound We'll dance the Christmas chorus and swing the partners' round!

III.

Tune up the Christmas fiddles!

They're lonely with the song Their bosoms kept so closely in silences so long; The boys and girls are weary with toilsomeness that grows Where labor drowns the music of melodies she knows; Then fix your fiddles, fellers! Each happy heart shall beat To glories of the raptures and trippings of the feet!

IV.

Tune up the Christmas fiddles!

Where royal music rings, Where lips are red with laughter and romping rapture sings, We'll find surcease of sorrow and Care shall die away While the feet shall dance the music of happiness for aye!

Then fix your fiddles, fellers! Our sweet-hearts laugh applause, And Love repeats the echoes in a kiss for Santa Claus!

Mistah Trouble, Mistah Trouble!

Happy dat yuh met me When de pleasuhes all am heah, En de joys beset me!

Happy dat de house am full So yuh'll hab toh trabble; Mister Trouble, stretch yoh laigs Libely down de grabble!

So Santa Claus'll Come.

My Mommer says ef I ain't good, Thet Santa'll stay away, En never bring a top er thing Thet boys want Christmas day; En I'm jes' purfic now, I guess, Er purficker then some, En I'm behavin' like a man So Santa Claus'll come!

I hop up out of bed, you know, 'Fore Mommer calls me thayre, En dress myse'f en wash my face En nicely comb my hair; En then I help my Mommer work, En make a happy home, En please my Popper all I kin, So Santa Claus'll come.

I go to school through all the week, En never hookey play, En I'm so good I'm never made Tell after school to stay; En when the Sundays come, you bet, I quit each idle chum, En go to Sunday School ez nice, So Santa Claus'll come!

En Mommer says I'm orful good, En teacher says so, too, En call me jes' a angel, all But havin' wings,--they do!

En Popper says thayre at the store's A dandy big ba.s.s drum!

You betcher life I'm bein' good So Santa Claus'll come!

Mister Sorrow.

Mister Sorrow came one day When the times were blue, And he said: "My brother, say Can I stay with you?"

And he looked so mighty nice That I asked him in; Nothing said about the price; 'Fraid he'd go agin!

Mister Sorrow from that day Hangs around here so!

Makes himself at home, to play He's my friend, you know!

When I hint it mighty strong That he'd better roam, Says he's boarded here so long That it seems like home!