1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:06,480 Joel's Talk with Santa Claus by Eugene Field. One Christmas Eve, Joel Baker 2 00:00:06,599 --> 00:00:12,560 was in a most unhappy mood. He was lonesome and miserable. The chimes 3 00:00:12,599 --> 00:00:17,879 making merry Christmas music outside disturbed rather than soothed him. The jingle of the 4 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,640 sleigh bells fretted him, and the shrill whistling of the wind around the corners 5 00:00:21,679 --> 00:00:24,760 of the house and up and down the chimney seemed to grate harshly on his 6 00:00:24,879 --> 00:00:31,839 ears. Humph said Joel wearily. Christmas is nothing to me. There was 7 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,600 a time when it meant a great deal, but that was long ago. 8 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:40,520 Fifty years is a long stretch to look back over. There is nothing in 9 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,960 Christmas now, nothing for me, at least, it is so long since 10 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,479 Santa Claus remembered me that I venture to say he has forgotten that there ever 11 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:53,280 was such a person as Joel Baker in all the world. It used to 12 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,280 be different. Santa Claus used to think a great deal of me when I 13 00:00:57,399 --> 00:01:02,719 was a boy. Ah Christmas nowadays ain't what it was in the good old 14 00:01:02,759 --> 00:01:07,239 time. No, not what it used to be. As Joel was absorbed 15 00:01:07,239 --> 00:01:11,560 in his distressing thoughts, he became aware very suddenly that somebody was entering or 16 00:01:11,599 --> 00:01:17,200 trying to enter the room. First came a draft of cold air, then 17 00:01:17,239 --> 00:01:22,640 a scraping grating sound, then a strange shuffling, and then yes, then 18 00:01:22,879 --> 00:01:26,280 all at once, Joel saw a pair of fat legs and a still fatter 19 00:01:26,359 --> 00:01:30,239 body dangle down the chimney, followed presently by a long white beard, above 20 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:36,079 which appeared a jolly red nose and two bright twinkling eyes, while over the 21 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:41,519 head and forehead was drawn a fur cap white with snowflakes. Ha ha, 22 00:01:42,159 --> 00:01:46,319 chuckled the fat, jolly stranger emerging from the chimney and standing well to one 23 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:51,640 side of the hearthstone. Ha ha. They don't have the big wide chimneys 24 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:55,640 they used to build, but they can't keep Santa Claus out. No, 25 00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:00,359 they can't keep Slanta Claus out ha ha ha. Though the chimney were no 26 00:02:00,439 --> 00:02:05,760 bigger than a gas pipe, Santa Claus would slide down it. It didn't 27 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,439 require a second glance to assure Joel that the newcomer was indeed Santa Claus. 28 00:02:10,319 --> 00:02:15,599 Joel knew the good old Saint, Oh yes, and he had seen him 29 00:02:15,599 --> 00:02:19,680 once before, and although that was when Joel was a little boy. He 30 00:02:19,759 --> 00:02:23,520 had never forgotten how Santa Claus looked, nor had Santa Claus forgotten Joel, 31 00:02:23,879 --> 00:02:29,280 although Joel thought he had. For now, Santa Claus looked kindly at Joel 32 00:02:29,719 --> 00:02:35,319 and smiled and said, Merry Christmas to you. Joel, Thank you, 33 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,960 Old Santa Claus, replied Joel. But I don't believe it's gonna be a 34 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:43,840 very merry Christmas. It's been so long since I've had a merry Christmas that 35 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,120 I don't believe i'd know how to act if I had one. Let's see, 36 00:02:47,159 --> 00:02:52,360 said Santa Claus. It must be going on fifty years since I saw 37 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,919 you last. Yes, you were eight years old the last time I slipped 38 00:02:55,919 --> 00:03:00,240 down the chimney of the old homestead and filled your stocking. Do you remember 39 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:05,439 it? I remember it well, answered Joel. I had made up my 40 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,520 mind to lie awake and see Santa Claus. I had heard tell of you, 41 00:03:08,599 --> 00:03:13,159 but i'd never seen you. And brother Otis, and I concluded we'd 42 00:03:13,199 --> 00:03:16,719 lie awake and watch for you to come. Santa Claus shook his head reproachfully. 43 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:23,080 That was very wrong, said he. For I'm so scary that if 44 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,240 i'd known you boys were awake, i'd have never come down the chimney at 45 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:30,199 all, and then you'd have had no presents. But Otis couldn't keep awake, 46 00:03:30,319 --> 00:03:35,080 explained Joel. We talked about everything we could think of, till Father 47 00:03:35,199 --> 00:03:38,000 called out to us that if we didn't stop talking, he'd have to send 48 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,479 one of us up into the attic to sleep with the hired man. So 49 00:03:40,599 --> 00:03:45,240 in less than five minutes, Otis was sound asleep, and no pinching could 50 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:49,560 wake him up. But I was bound to see Santa Claus, and I 51 00:03:49,599 --> 00:03:53,560 don't believe anything would have put me to sleep. I heard the big clock 52 00:03:53,599 --> 00:03:57,719 in the sitting room strike eleven, and I had begun wonderin if you never 53 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,759 were going to come. When all of a sudden I heard the tinkle of 54 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,840 the bells around your reindeer's necks. Then I heard the reindeers prancin on the 55 00:04:04,919 --> 00:04:09,280 roof, and the sound of your sleigh runners cutting through the crust and slipping 56 00:04:09,319 --> 00:04:13,879 over the shingles. I was kinda scared, and I covered my head up 57 00:04:13,919 --> 00:04:16,879 with the sheet and quilts. Only I left a little hole so I could 58 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,560 peek out an see what was going on. As soon as I saw you 59 00:04:20,639 --> 00:04:26,079 I got over beIN scared, for you were jolly and smilin like, and 60 00:04:26,199 --> 00:04:30,319 you chuckled as you went around to each stalkin and filled it up. Yes, 61 00:04:30,639 --> 00:04:33,600 I can remember that night, said Santa Claus. I brought you a 62 00:04:33,639 --> 00:04:38,879 sled, didn't I. Yes, And you brought Otis one too, replied 63 00:04:38,959 --> 00:04:43,480 Joel. Mine was red and had Yankee Doodle painted in black letters on the 64 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:48,920 side. Otis's was black and had snow Queen in gilt letters. I remember 65 00:04:48,959 --> 00:04:54,839 those sleds distinctly, said Santa Claus, for I made them specially for you 66 00:04:54,959 --> 00:04:59,560 boys. You set the sleds up against the wall, continued Joel, and 67 00:04:59,639 --> 00:05:03,639 then you filled the stockings. There were six of them, as I recollect, 68 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:10,199 said Santa Claus. Let me see, queried Joel. There was mine, 69 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:16,560 and Otis's, and Elvira's and Thankfuls and Susan Prickett's. Susan was our 70 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,800 help, you know, No, there were only five, and as I 71 00:05:19,879 --> 00:05:24,120 remember, they were the biggest. We could beg or borrow of Aunt Dorcas, 72 00:05:24,639 --> 00:05:29,240 who weighed nigh under two hundred pounds. Otis and I didn't like Susan 73 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:31,279 Prickett, and we were hoping you'd put a cold potato in her stocking, 74 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:38,279 But Susan was a good girl, remonstrated Santa Claus. You know I put 75 00:05:38,319 --> 00:05:42,160 cold potatoes only in the stockings of boys and girls who were bad and don't 76 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:46,360 believe in Santa Claus at any rate, said Joel. You filled all the 77 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,959 stockings with candy and popcorn and nuts and raisins, and I can remember you 78 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:54,680 said you were afraid you'd run out of popcorn balls before you got around. 79 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,560 Then you left each of us a book. Elvira got the best one, 80 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,439 which was The Garland of Friendship, and had poems in it about the bleedin' 81 00:06:03,439 --> 00:06:09,800 of hearts and so forth. Father wasn't expectin anything, but you left him 82 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,240 a new pair of mittens, and Mother got a new fur boa to wear 83 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:17,199 to meetin'. Of course, said Santa Claus. I never forgot father an 84 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,720 mother. Well, it was as much as I could do to lay still, 85 00:06:20,879 --> 00:06:25,040 continued Joel, for I'd been longin for a sled, and the sight 86 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,839 of that red sled with Yankee doodle painted on it just made me wild. 87 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,279 But somehow or other I began to get powerful, sleepy all at once, 88 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:36,759 and I couldn't keep my eyes open. The next thing I knew, ODIs 89 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:41,079 was nudging me in the ribs. Get up, Joel says he. It's 90 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:46,519 Christmas and Santa Claus has been here. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, we 91 00:06:46,639 --> 00:06:50,399 cried as we tumbled out of bed. Then Alvirah and Thankful came in not 92 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:55,600 more'n half dressed, and Susan came in too, and we just made rome 93 00:06:55,639 --> 00:07:00,800 howl with Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas to each other. If you children don't 94 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:02,920 make less noise in there, cried father, I'll have to send you all 95 00:07:02,959 --> 00:07:08,680 back to bed. The idea of asking boys and girls to keep quiet on 96 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:14,120 Christmas morning when they've got new sleds and garlands of friendship. Santa Claus chuckled 97 00:07:14,639 --> 00:07:19,040 his rosy cheeks fairly beamed joy. Otis and I didn't want any breakfasts, 98 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:23,600 said Joel. We made up our minds that a stockin full of candy and 99 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:28,639 popcorn and raisins would stay us for a while. I do believe there wasn't 100 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,800 buckwheat cakes enough in the township to keep us indoors that morning. Buckwheat cakes 101 00:07:32,839 --> 00:07:36,879 don't size up much longside of a red sled with Yankee doodle painted onto it, 102 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:42,439 and a black sled named Snow Queen. We didn't care how cold it 103 00:07:42,639 --> 00:07:46,360 was, so much the better for slidin downhill. All the boys had new 104 00:07:46,399 --> 00:07:53,120 sleds Laife Dawson, Bill Holbrook, Gum Adams, Rube, Playford, Leander, 105 00:07:53,199 --> 00:07:57,519 Merrick, Ezra Purple, all on em had new sleds. Septin Martin 106 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,079 Peevee, and he said he countulated Santa Claus had skipped him this year, 107 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:05,720 cause his father had broke his leg haulin logs from the Pelham Woods and had 108 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:09,920 been kept in doors six weeks. But Martin had his old sled, and 109 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:15,120 he didn't have to ask any odds of any of us neither. I brought 110 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:20,040 Martin a sled the next Christmas, said Santa Claus, like as not, 111 00:08:20,959 --> 00:08:24,920 But did you ever slide down hill? Santa Claus? I don't mean such 112 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,639 hills as they have out here in this new country, but one of them, 113 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:33,279 old fashioned New England hills that was made specially for boys to slide down, 114 00:08:33,759 --> 00:08:37,000 full of bumpers an thankye barms, an about ten times longer comin up 115 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:41,600 than it is goin down. The wind blew in our faces and almost took 116 00:08:41,639 --> 00:08:46,879 our breath away. Merry Christmas to ye little boys, it seemed to say, 117 00:08:46,399 --> 00:08:50,879 And it untied our mufflers and whirled the snow in our faces, just 118 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:54,639 as if it was a boy too and wanted to play with us. An 119 00:08:54,639 --> 00:08:58,279 old crow came flappin over us from the cornfield beyond the meadow. He said, 120 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:03,960 aw cool when he saw my new sled. I s'pose he'd never seen 121 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:07,720 a red one before. Otis had a hard time with his sled, the 122 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,519 black one, and he wondered why it wouldn't go as fast as mine would 123 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,639 have. You scraped the paint off in the runners, ask Grasslely. Good. 124 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:20,879 Now, course, I have said Otis broke my own knife and loot 125 00:09:20,039 --> 00:09:24,120 Ingram's a doin it, But it don't seem to make no difference. The 126 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:30,559 darned old thing won't go. Then what did Simon Buzzle say, but that 127 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:35,799 like it's not It was because Otis's sled's name was snow Queen. Never did 128 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:39,159 see a girl sled that was worth a cent anyway, says Simon. Well, 129 00:09:39,159 --> 00:09:43,399 now that just about broke Otis up in business. It ain't a girl 130 00:09:43,519 --> 00:09:48,559 sled, says he, and his name ain't snow Queen, I'm a gonna 131 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:52,919 call it Daniel Webster or Ulver Optic, or Sheriff Robbins or after some other 132 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:58,399 big man. And the boys plagued him so much about that pesky girl sled 133 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:01,399 that he scratched off the name. And I remember it did go better after 134 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:05,360 that. About the only thing, continued Joel, that marred the harmony of 135 00:10:05,399 --> 00:10:09,080 the occasion, as the editor of the Hampshire County Phoenix used to say, 136 00:10:09,919 --> 00:10:13,559 was the ashes that Deacon Morris Frisbee sprinkled out in front of his house. 137 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,200 He said he wasn't going to have folks breaking their necks just on account of 138 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:22,799 a lot of frivolous boys that was going to the gallows as fast as they 139 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,679 could. Oh how we hated him, and we'd have snowballed him too, 140 00:10:26,759 --> 00:10:31,440 if we hadn't been afraid of the constable that lived next door. But the 141 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:35,559 ashes didn't bother us much, And every time we slid side settled, we'd 142 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:39,159 give the ashes a kick, and that sort of scattered him. The bear 143 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:43,840 thought of this made Santa Claus laugh. Going on about nine o'clock, said 144 00:10:43,919 --> 00:10:48,960 Joel. The girls come along, Sister Elvirah, and thankful Prudence Tucker, 145 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:52,279 Belle, Yocum, Sophrony, Holbrook, Sis Hubbard, and Marthy Sawyer. 146 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:58,080 Marthy's brother Increase, wanted her to write on his sled, but Marthy allowed 147 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:03,159 that a red sled was her choice. Every time. I don't see how 148 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:07,200 I'm gonna hold on, said Marthy. Seems as if I would have my 149 00:11:07,279 --> 00:11:11,960 hands full keeping my things from blowing away. Don't worry about yourself, Marthy 150 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:15,720 says I. For if you'll look after your things, I kind of calculate 151 00:11:15,799 --> 00:11:20,639 I'll manage not to lose you on the way, Dear Marthy. Seems as 152 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,559 if I could see you now, with your tangled hair of blowin in the 153 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:28,480 wind, your eyes all bright and sparkling in your cheeks as red as apples. 154 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:31,360 Seems too, as if I could hear you laughing and calling, just 155 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,600 as you did as I toiled up the old New England hill that Christmas Mornin'. 156 00:11:35,639 --> 00:11:41,879 A callin, Joel, Joel, Joel. Ain't you ever comin, 157 00:11:41,039 --> 00:11:45,879 Joel? But the heel is long and steep, Marthy, and Joel ain't 158 00:11:45,879 --> 00:11:50,360 the boy he used to be. He's old and gray and feeble, but 159 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,360 there's love and faith in his heart. And they kind of keep him tottering 160 00:11:54,440 --> 00:12:01,720 toward the voice. He hears a callin Joel, Joel, Joel. I 161 00:12:01,879 --> 00:12:07,600 know, I see it all, murmured Santa Claus, very softly. Oh 162 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:13,000 that was so long ago, sighed Joel, So very long ago, and 163 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,960 I've had no Christmas since, only once, when our little one Marthy's in 164 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:22,639 mine. You remember him, Santa Claus, Yes, said Santa Claus. 165 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:26,960 A toddlin little boy with blue eyes like his mother, interrupted Joel. And 166 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,240 he was like her too, so gentle and loving. Only we called him 167 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:35,120 Joel, for that was my father's name, and it kind of run in 168 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,600 the family. He want more than three years old when you came with your 169 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:41,799 Christmas presents for him, Santa Claus. We had told him about you, 170 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,320 and he used to go to the chimney every night and make a little prayer 171 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:48,840 about what he wanted you to bring him. And you brought him too, 172 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:54,840 a stick horse and a picture book and some blocks and a drum. They're 173 00:12:54,879 --> 00:12:58,240 on the shelf in the closet there, and his little Christmas stalkin with him. 174 00:12:58,799 --> 00:13:03,039 I've saved them all, and I've taken him down and held him in 175 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:07,279 my hands. Oh so many times. But when I came again, said 176 00:13:07,279 --> 00:13:15,639 Santa Claus, his little bed was empty and I was alone. It killed 177 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:22,039 his mother, Marthy was so tender hearted she kinda drooped and pined after that. 178 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:28,360 So now they've been asleep side by side in the buryin' ground these thirty 179 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:35,919 years. That's why I'm so sad like whenever Christmas comes, said Joel, 180 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:41,600 after a pause. The thinking of long ago makes me bitter almost. It's 181 00:13:41,639 --> 00:13:46,559 so different now from what it used to be, No, Joel, Oh 182 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:52,559 no, said Santa Claus. Tis the same world, and human nature is 183 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:56,720 the same and always will be. But Christmas is for the little folks, 184 00:13:56,320 --> 00:14:00,399 and you, who are old and grizzled now, must know it and love 185 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:05,279 it only through the gladness it brings the little ones, true, groaned Joel. 186 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,200 But how may I know and feel this gladness when I have no little 187 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:13,000 stocking hanging in my chimney corner, no child to please me with his prattle. 188 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:20,159 See, I am alone. No, you are not alone, Joel, 189 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:24,320 said Santa Claus. There are children in this great city who would love 190 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:28,320 and bless you for your goodness if you but touched their hearts. Make them 191 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:33,600 happy, Joel, send by me this night, some gift to the little 192 00:14:33,679 --> 00:14:39,320 boy in the old house yonder he is poor and sick. A simple toy 193 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:45,200 will fill his Christmas with gladness. His little sister too, Take her some 194 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,799 presents, said Joel. Make them happy for me, Santa Claus, you 195 00:14:48,879 --> 00:14:54,440 are right, make them happy for me. How sweetly Joel slept. When 196 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:58,879 he awoke, the sunlight streamed in through the window and seemed to bid him 197 00:14:58,919 --> 00:15:03,639 a merry Christmas. How contented and happy Joel felt it must have been the 198 00:15:03,679 --> 00:15:07,360 talk with Santa Claus that did it all. He had never known a sweeter 199 00:15:07,519 --> 00:15:11,919 sense of peace. A little girl came out of the house over the way. 200 00:15:13,679 --> 00:15:16,159 She had a new doll in her arms, and she sang a merry 201 00:15:16,159 --> 00:15:18,720 little song, and she laughed with joy as she skipped along the street. 202 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:24,519 I And at the window sat the little sick boy, and the toy Santa 203 00:15:24,559 --> 00:15:28,639 Claus left him seemed to have brought him strength and health, for his eyes 204 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:31,960 sparkled and his cheeks glowed, and it was plain to see his heart was 205 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,960 full of happiness. And oh, how the chimes did ring out, and 206 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:41,399 how joyfully they sang their Christmas carol. That morning they sang of Bethlehem and 207 00:15:41,519 --> 00:15:46,120 the Manger and the Babe. They sang of love and charity, till all 208 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:52,200 the Christmas air seemed full of angel voices, Carol of the Christmas Morn, 209 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:58,039 Carol of the christ Child born, Carol to the listening sky till it echoes 210 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:03,480 back again. Glory be to God on high, Peace on earth, good 211 00:16:03,519 --> 00:16:08,039 will toward men. So all this music, the carol of the chimes, 212 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:11,639 the sound of children's voices, the smile of the poor little boy over the 213 00:16:11,679 --> 00:16:18,360 way, all this sweet music crept into Joel's heart that Christmas morning. Yes, 214 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:22,480 and with these sweet holy influences came others, so subtle and divine that, 215 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:26,879 in its silent communion with them, Joel's heart cried out, Amen and 216 00:16:27,039 --> 00:16:33,759 Amen to the glory of the Christmas Time. End of Joel's talk was Santa 217 00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:36,679 Claus by Eugene Field