THE PRINCE'S XMAS
I
There once was a Prince of Brinkals,
Who grew weary of Xmas day,
He was tired of banquets and balls
With dukes who had nothing to say,
And came only for presents and such,
But did not enjoy themselves much.
Who grew weary of Xmas day,
He was tired of banquets and balls
With dukes who had nothing to say,
And came only for presents and such,
But did not enjoy themselves much.
II
'Twas on the night before Xmas—the Prince
Lay fast asleep in his bed;
In his dreams dukes and banquets did pass,
All seemed muddled up in his head.
In his deep sleep, the Prince did say:
"In my realm there shall be no Xmas day!"
Lay fast asleep in his bed;
In his dreams dukes and banquets did pass,
All seemed muddled up in his head.
In his deep sleep, the Prince did say:
"In my realm there shall be no Xmas day!"
III
When the heralds proclaimed the royal decree,
Such were the sights that one did see,
That it made one's very blood run cold.
The children's grief was sad to behold.
And the people began to weep and say:
"What shall we do without Xmas day?"
Such were the sights that one did see,
That it made one's very blood run cold.
The children's grief was sad to behold.
And the people began to weep and say:
"What shall we do without Xmas day?"
IV
The Prince, sleeping peacefully and serene,
Was in the midst of a beautiful dream,
When he suddenly heard a tinkling bell,
(And now I've something strange to tell.)
The sleeping Prince got a terrible scare,
For what do you think he saw, standing there?
Was in the midst of a beautiful dream,
When he suddenly heard a tinkling bell,
(And now I've something strange to tell.)
The sleeping Prince got a terrible scare,
For what do you think he saw, standing there?
V
A Xmas elf, dressed all in red,
He stood one foot from the Prince's bed.
He jumped up and then hopped around,
And the bell on his cap made the cheeriest sound.
It went tinkle, tinkle, as if to say:
"To-morrow shall be Xmas day."
He stood one foot from the Prince's bed.
He jumped up and then hopped around,
And the bell on his cap made the cheeriest sound.
It went tinkle, tinkle, as if to say:
"To-morrow shall be Xmas day."
VI
He approached the Prince and made a bow,
And then the elf began, "I trow,
You're the selfishest boy I ever did see,
I'd like to put you across my knee
And give you thrashings, one, two, three,—
Oh! What a different boy you'd be!"
And then the elf began, "I trow,
You're the selfishest boy I ever did see,
I'd like to put you across my knee
And give you thrashings, one, two, three,—
Oh! What a different boy you'd be!"
VII
And then he gave the Prince a cloak.
"But not another word," he spoke,
"The cloak's invisible, and so
We'll creep outside—no one will know.
Come," said the tiny elf, "and see
What sadness was wrought by your decree."
"But not another word," he spoke,
"The cloak's invisible, and so
We'll creep outside—no one will know.
Come," said the tiny elf, "and see
What sadness was wrought by your decree."
VIII
They flew over treetops and housetops, too,
Until the Prince was frozen blue.
He saw children moan o'er their terrible fate,
And the sights, as it was later told,
Made the royal blood of the Prince run cold.
Until the Prince was frozen blue.
He saw children moan o'er their terrible fate,
And the sights, as it was later told,
Made the royal blood of the Prince run cold.
IX
When the Prince reached home, he thanked the elf,
And told him he'd not think of himself,
And then ordered annulled the royal decree,
And the rejoicing that followed was good to see.
The same day the Prince gave a banquet and ball,
And then it seemed not to bore him at all.
And told him he'd not think of himself,
And then ordered annulled the royal decree,
And the rejoicing that followed was good to see.
The same day the Prince gave a banquet and ball,
And then it seemed not to bore him at all.
X
And all the children, from far and wide,
Were within the castle at eventide;
For the banquet great on Xmas day
Had been given for them. And all did say,
As they left the palace, cheerful and bright,
"A Merry Xmas and Happy Day,
To you, dear Prince, Good Night, Good Night!"
Were within the castle at eventide;
For the banquet great on Xmas day
Had been given for them. And all did say,
As they left the palace, cheerful and bright,
"A Merry Xmas and Happy Day,
To you, dear Prince, Good Night, Good Night!"
December 25, 1915.