1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:05,719 Speaker 1: Joel's Talk with Santa Claus by Eugene Field. One Christmas Eve, 2 00:00:05,839 --> 00:00:09,199 Joel Baker was in a most unhappy mood. He was 3 00:00:09,279 --> 00:00:14,560 lonesome and miserable. The chimes making merry Christmas music outside 4 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,199 disturbed rather than soothed him. The jingle of the sleigh 5 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,839 bells fretted him, and the shrill whistling of the wind 6 00:00:20,879 --> 00:00:22,839 around the corners of the house and up and down 7 00:00:22,839 --> 00:00:26,480 the chimney seemed to grate harshly on his ears. Humph 8 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:31,839 said Joel wearily. Christmas is nothing to me. There was 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:33,719 a time when it meant a great deal, but that 10 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,759 was long ago. Fifty years is a long stretch to 11 00:00:37,799 --> 00:00:41,880 look back over. There is nothing in Christmas now, nothing 12 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,280 for me, at least, it is so long since Santa 13 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:47,479 Claus remembered me that I venture to say he has 14 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:49,920 forgotten that there ever was such a person as Joel 15 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,840 Baker in all the world. It used to be different. 16 00:00:54,679 --> 00:00:56,960 Santa Claus used to think a great deal of me 17 00:00:57,039 --> 00:01:01,479 when I was a boy. Ah Christmas nowadays ain't what 18 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:05,040 it was in the good old time. No, not what 19 00:01:05,159 --> 00:01:08,480 it used to be. As Joel was absorbed in his 20 00:01:08,599 --> 00:01:11,920 distressing thoughts, he became aware very suddenly that somebody was 21 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:15,159 entering or trying to enter the room. First came a 22 00:01:15,239 --> 00:01:19,280 draft of cold air, then a scraping grating sound, then 23 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:23,519 a strange shuffling, and then yes, then all at once, 24 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:25,920 Joel saw a pair of fat legs and a still 25 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:29,920 fatter body dangle down the chimney, followed presently by a 26 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,959 long white beard, above which appeared a jolly red nose 27 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:36,480 and two bright twinkling eyes, while over the head and 28 00:01:36,519 --> 00:01:41,519 forehead was drawn a fur cap white with snowflakes. Ha ha, 29 00:01:42,159 --> 00:01:45,159 chuckled the fat, jolly stranger emerging from the chimney and 30 00:01:45,239 --> 00:01:48,719 standing well to one side of the hearthstone. Ha ha. 31 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,560 They don't have the big wide chimneys they used to build, 32 00:01:52,879 --> 00:01:56,680 but they can't keep Santa Claus out. No, they can't 33 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:01,120 keep Slanta Claus out ha ha ha. Though the chimney 34 00:02:01,159 --> 00:02:03,640 were no bigger than a gas pipe, Santa Claus would 35 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,319 slide down it. It didn't require a second glance to 36 00:02:07,359 --> 00:02:11,639 assure Joel that the newcomer was indeed Santa Claus. Joel 37 00:02:11,719 --> 00:02:15,080 knew the good old Saint, Oh yes, and he had 38 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,680 seen him once before, and although that was when Joel 39 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,240 was a little boy. He had never forgotten how Santa 40 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:25,599 Claus looked, nor had Santa Claus forgotten Joel, although Joel 41 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,879 thought he had. For now, Santa Claus looked kindly at 42 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:33,919 Joel and smiled and said, Merry Christmas to you. Joel, 43 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,840 Thank you, Old Santa Claus, replied Joel. But I don't 44 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:41,479 believe it's gonna be a very merry Christmas. It's been 45 00:02:41,599 --> 00:02:43,960 so long since I've had a merry Christmas that I 46 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,280 don't believe i'd know how to act if I had one. 47 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:50,879 Let's see, said Santa Claus. It must be going on 48 00:02:51,039 --> 00:02:54,919 fifty years since I saw you last. Yes, you were 49 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,159 eight years old the last time I slipped down the 50 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,639 chimney of the old homestead and filled your stocking. Do 51 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,800 you remember it? I remember it well, answered Joel. I 52 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,919 had made up my mind to lie awake and see 53 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,919 Santa Claus. I had heard tell of you, but i'd 54 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:13,159 never seen you. And brother Otis, and I concluded we'd 55 00:03:13,199 --> 00:03:16,280 lie awake and watch for you to come. Santa Claus 56 00:03:16,319 --> 00:03:21,000 shook his head reproachfully. That was very wrong, said he. 57 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,080 For I'm so scary that if i'd known you boys 58 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,439 were awake, i'd have never come down the chimney at all, 59 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,639 and then you'd have had no presents. But Otis couldn't 60 00:03:30,719 --> 00:03:34,080 keep awake, explained Joel. We talked about everything we could 61 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,159 think of, till Father called out to us that if 62 00:03:36,199 --> 00:03:38,240 we didn't stop talking, he'd have to send one of 63 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:40,639 us up into the attic to sleep with the hired man. 64 00:03:41,439 --> 00:03:44,120 So in less than five minutes, Otis was sound asleep, 65 00:03:44,199 --> 00:03:47,560 and no pinching could wake him up. But I was 66 00:03:47,599 --> 00:03:50,719 bound to see Santa Claus, and I don't believe anything 67 00:03:50,759 --> 00:03:53,199 would have put me to sleep. I heard the big 68 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,479 clock in the sitting room strike eleven, and I had 69 00:03:56,479 --> 00:03:59,000 begun wonderin if you never were going to come. When 70 00:03:59,039 --> 00:04:00,879 all of a sudden I heard the tinkle of the 71 00:04:00,919 --> 00:04:05,159 bells around your reindeer's necks. Then I heard the reindeers 72 00:04:05,159 --> 00:04:07,199 prancin on the roof, and the sound of your sleigh 73 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,199 runners cutting through the crust and slipping over the shingles. 74 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,879 I was kinda scared, and I covered my head up 75 00:04:13,919 --> 00:04:16,959 with the sheet and quilts. Only I left a little 76 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:19,199 hole so I could peek out an see what was 77 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,959 going on. As soon as I saw you I got 78 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,519 over beIN scared, for you were jolly and smilin like, 79 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:28,240 and you chuckled as you went around to each stalkin 80 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,959 and filled it up. Yes, I can remember that night, 81 00:04:32,079 --> 00:04:36,680 said Santa Claus. I brought you a sled, didn't I. Yes, 82 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,480 And you brought Otis one too, replied Joel. Mine was 83 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,319 red and had Yankee Doodle painted in black letters on 84 00:04:43,399 --> 00:04:47,120 the side. Otis's was black and had snow Queen in 85 00:04:47,199 --> 00:04:52,639 gilt letters. I remember those sleds distinctly, said Santa Claus, 86 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:57,000 for I made them specially for you boys. You set 87 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,759 the sleds up against the wall, continued Joel, and then 88 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:03,800 you filled the stockings. There were six of them, as 89 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:08,639 I recollect, said Santa Claus. Let me see, queried Joel. 90 00:05:09,319 --> 00:05:15,120 There was mine, and Otis's, and Elvira's and Thankfuls and 91 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:19,519 Susan Prickett's. Susan was our help, you know, No, there 92 00:05:19,519 --> 00:05:22,079 were only five, and as I remember, they were the biggest. 93 00:05:22,079 --> 00:05:25,160 We could beg or borrow of Aunt Dorcas, who weighed 94 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,800 nigh under two hundred pounds. Otis and I didn't like 95 00:05:28,879 --> 00:05:31,079 Susan Prickett, and we were hoping you'd put a cold 96 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:34,920 potato in her stocking, But Susan was a good girl, 97 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:39,519 remonstrated Santa Claus. You know I put cold potatoes only 98 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:41,759 in the stockings of boys and girls who were bad 99 00:05:41,759 --> 00:05:45,600 and don't believe in Santa Claus at any rate, said Joel. 100 00:05:45,639 --> 00:05:48,279 You filled all the stockings with candy and popcorn and 101 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,360 nuts and raisins, and I can remember you said you 102 00:05:51,399 --> 00:05:54,000 were afraid you'd run out of popcorn balls before you 103 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:57,680 got around. Then you left each of us a book. 104 00:05:58,079 --> 00:06:02,000 Elvira got the best one, which was The Garland of Friendship, 105 00:06:02,519 --> 00:06:04,920 and had poems in it about the bleedin' of hearts 106 00:06:04,959 --> 00:06:09,560 and so forth. Father wasn't expectin anything, but you left 107 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,040 him a new pair of mittens, and Mother got a 108 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,560 new fur boa to wear to meetin'. Of course, said 109 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,680 Santa Claus. I never forgot father an mother. Well, it 110 00:06:19,759 --> 00:06:21,720 was as much as I could do to lay still, 111 00:06:21,879 --> 00:06:24,600 continued Joel, for I'd been longin for a sled, and 112 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,240 the sight of that red sled with Yankee doodle painted 113 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:30,759 on it just made me wild. But somehow or other 114 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,399 I began to get powerful, sleepy all at once, and 115 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:37,319 I couldn't keep my eyes open. The next thing I knew, 116 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,360 ODIs was nudging me in the ribs. Get up, Joel 117 00:06:40,439 --> 00:06:43,079 says he. It's Christmas and Santa Claus has been here. 118 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,920 Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, we cried as we tumbled out 119 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:51,800 of bed. Then Alvirah and Thankful came in not more'n 120 00:06:51,879 --> 00:06:54,959 half dressed, and Susan came in too. An. We just 121 00:06:55,079 --> 00:06:58,399 made rome howl with Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to each other. 122 00:06:59,639 --> 00:07:02,720 If you children don't make less noise in there, cried father, 123 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,720 I'll have to send you all back to bed. The 124 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,680 idea of asking boys and girls to keep quiet on 125 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:12,120 Christmas morning when they've got new sleds and garlands of friendship. 126 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:18,439 Santa Claus chuckled his rosy cheeks fairly beamed joy. Otis 127 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,360 and I didn't want any breakfasts, said Joel. We made 128 00:07:21,439 --> 00:07:23,600 up our minds that a stockin full of candy and 129 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:27,439 popcorn and raisins would stay us for a while. I 130 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,639 do believe there wasn't buckwheat cakes enough in the township 131 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,399 to keep us indoors that morning. Buckwheat cakes don't size 132 00:07:34,519 --> 00:07:37,079 up much longside of a red sled with Yankee doodle 133 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,199 painted onto it, and a black sled named Snow Queen. 134 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,639 We didn't care how cold it was, so much the 135 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,879 better for slidin downhill. All the boys had new sleds 136 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:53,600 Laife Dawson, Bill Holbrook, Gum Adams, Rube, Playford, Leander, Merrick, 137 00:07:53,959 --> 00:07:58,040 Ezra Purple, all on em had new sleds. Septin Martin Peevee, 138 00:07:58,839 --> 00:08:01,680 and he said he countulated Santa Claus had skipped him 139 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,480 this year, cause his father had broke his leg haulin 140 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,199 logs from the Pelham Woods and had been kept in 141 00:08:07,319 --> 00:08:10,920 doors six weeks. But Martin had his old sled, and 142 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,000 he didn't have to ask any odds of any of 143 00:08:13,079 --> 00:08:16,879 us neither. I brought Martin a sled the next Christmas, 144 00:08:17,079 --> 00:08:21,680 said Santa Claus, like as not, But did you ever 145 00:08:21,759 --> 00:08:25,240 slide down hill? Santa Claus? I don't mean such hills 146 00:08:25,279 --> 00:08:28,040 as they have out here in this new country, but 147 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,879 one of them, old fashioned New England hills that was 148 00:08:30,959 --> 00:08:34,679 made specially for boys to slide down, full of bumpers 149 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:38,000 an thankye barms, an about ten times longer comin up 150 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,279 than it is goin down. The wind blew in our 151 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:45,080 faces and almost took our breath away. Merry Christmas to 152 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:48,200 ye little boys, it seemed to say, And it untied 153 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,879 our mufflers and whirled the snow in our faces, just 154 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:52,840 as if it was a boy too and wanted to 155 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:56,440 play with us. An old crow came flappin over us 156 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:00,679 from the cornfield beyond the meadow. He said, aw cool 157 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,679 when he saw my new sled. I s'pose he'd never 158 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,720 seen a red one before. Otis had a hard time 159 00:09:07,759 --> 00:09:10,639 with his sled, the black one, and he wondered why 160 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:13,919 it wouldn't go as fast as mine would have. You 161 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:17,840 scraped the paint off in the runners, ask Grassley. Good, Now, course, 162 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:20,879 I have said Otis broke my own knife and loot 163 00:09:21,039 --> 00:09:23,799 Ingram's a doin it, But it don't seem to make 164 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:28,600 no difference. The darned old thing won't go. Then what 165 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:32,200 did Simon Buzzle say, but that like it's not It 166 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,799 was because Otis's sled's name was snow Queen. Never did 167 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,240 see a girl sled that was worth a cent anyway, 168 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:42,200 says Simon. Well, now that just about broke Otis up 169 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,600 in business. It ain't a girl sled, says he, and 170 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,799 his name ain't snow Queen. I'm a gonna call it 171 00:09:48,919 --> 00:09:53,440 Daniel Webster or Ulver Optic, or Sheriff Robbins or after 172 00:09:53,519 --> 00:09:56,519 some other big man and the boys plagued him so 173 00:09:56,639 --> 00:09:59,360 much about that pesky girl sled that he scratched off 174 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,559 the name. And I remember it did go better after that. 175 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,279 About the only thing, continued Joel, that marred the harmony 176 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,000 of the occasion, as the editor of the Hampshire County 177 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:12,519 Phoenix used to say, was the ashes that Deacon Morris 178 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:15,799 Frisbee sprinkled out in front of his house. He said 179 00:10:15,879 --> 00:10:18,559 he wasn't going to have folks breaking their necks just 180 00:10:18,639 --> 00:10:20,840 on account of a lot of frivolous boys that was 181 00:10:20,919 --> 00:10:24,600 going to the gallows as fast as they could. Oh 182 00:10:24,639 --> 00:10:27,679 how we hated him, and we'd have snowballed him too, 183 00:10:27,759 --> 00:10:29,919 if we hadn't been afraid of the constable that lived 184 00:10:29,919 --> 00:10:33,559 next door. But the ashes didn't bother us much, and 185 00:10:33,639 --> 00:10:36,240 every time we slid side settled, we'd give the ashes 186 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:39,159 a kick, and that sort of scattered him. The bear 187 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,879 thought of this made Santa Claus laugh. Going on about 188 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:46,799 nine o'clock, said Joel. The girls come along, Sister Elvirah, 189 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:52,320 and thankful Prudence Tucker, Belle, Yocum, Sophrony, Holbrook, Sis Hubbard, 190 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,799 and Marthy Sawyer. Marthy's brother Increase, wanted her to write 191 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,919 on his sled, but Marthy allowed that a red sled 192 00:11:00,159 --> 00:11:03,399 was her choice. Every time. I don't see how I'm 193 00:11:03,399 --> 00:11:06,919 gonna hold on, said Marthy. Seems as if I would 194 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,519 have my hands full keeping my things from blowing away. 195 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:13,159 Don't worry about yourself, Marthy says I. For if you'll 196 00:11:13,159 --> 00:11:16,440 look after your things, I kind of calculate I'll manage 197 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:21,519 not to lose you on the way, Dear Marthy. Seems 198 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:23,720 as if I could see you now, with your tangled 199 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:26,000 hair of blowin in the wind, your eyes all bright 200 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:30,159 and sparkling in your cheeks as red as apples. Seems too, 201 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:32,360 as if I could hear you laughing and calling, just 202 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:34,240 as you did as I toiled up the old New 203 00:11:34,279 --> 00:11:40,519 England hill that Christmas Mornin' A callin, Joel, Joel, Joel. 204 00:11:40,879 --> 00:11:44,200 Ain't you ever comin? Joel? But the heel is long 205 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:46,759 and steep, Marthy, and Joel ain't the boy he used 206 00:11:46,799 --> 00:11:50,679 to be. He's old and gray and feeble, but there's 207 00:11:50,759 --> 00:11:53,399 love and faith in his heart. And they kind of 208 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:59,559 keep him tottering toward the voice. He hears a callin Joel, Joel, Joel. 209 00:12:01,639 --> 00:12:06,360 I know I see it all, murmured Santa Claus, very softly. 210 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:11,519 Oh that was so long ago, sighed Joel, So very 211 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:16,039 long ago, and I've had no Christmas since, only once, 212 00:12:16,519 --> 00:12:19,399 when our little one Marthy's in mine. You remember him, 213 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:23,759 Santa Claus, Yes, said Santa Claus. A toddlin little boy 214 00:12:23,799 --> 00:12:28,159 with blue eyes like his mother, interrupted Joel. And he 215 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,720 was like her too, so gentle and loving. Only we 216 00:12:31,799 --> 00:12:34,279 called him Joel, for that was my father's name, and 217 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,879 it kind of run in the family. He want more 218 00:12:36,919 --> 00:12:39,120 than three years old when you came with your Christmas 219 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,799 presents for him, Santa Claus. We had told him about you, 220 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:45,360 and he used to go to the chimney every night 221 00:12:45,399 --> 00:12:47,240 and make a little prayer about what he wanted you 222 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,919 to bring him. And you brought him too, a stick 223 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,639 horse and a picture book and some blocks and a drum. 224 00:12:55,639 --> 00:12:57,600 They're on the shelf in the closet there, and his 225 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:01,320 little Christmas stalkin with him. I've saved them all, and 226 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,639 I've taken him down and held him in my hands, 227 00:13:03,759 --> 00:13:08,279 oh so many times. But when I came again, said 228 00:13:08,279 --> 00:13:13,960 Santa Claus. His little bed was empty and I was alone. 229 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:19,759 It killed his mother, Marthy was so tender hearted she 230 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:23,720 kinda drooped and pined after that. So now they've been 231 00:13:23,759 --> 00:13:30,440 asleep side by side in the buryin' ground these thirty years. 232 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:35,919 That's why I'm so sad, like whenever Christmas comes, said Joel, 233 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:39,919 after a pause. The thinking of long ago makes me 234 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,480 bitter almost. It's so different now from what it used 235 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:50,559 to be, No, Joel, Oh no, said Santa Claus. Tis 236 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,039 the same world, and human nature is the same and 237 00:13:53,159 --> 00:13:56,720 always will be. But Christmas is for the little folks, 238 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:59,799 and you, who are old and grizzled now, must know 239 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:02,320 it and love it only through the gladness it brings 240 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:06,759 the little ones, true, groaned Joel. But how may I 241 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,200 know and feel this gladness when I have no little 242 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:13,000 stocking hanging in my chimney corner, no child to please 243 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:18,879 me with his prattle. See, I am alone. No, you 244 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:22,840 are not alone, Joel, said Santa Claus. There are children 245 00:14:22,879 --> 00:14:24,879 in this great city who would love and bless you 246 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:29,080 for your goodness if you but touched their hearts. Make 247 00:14:29,159 --> 00:14:33,159 them happy, Joel, Send by me, this night, some gift 248 00:14:33,159 --> 00:14:35,879 to the little boy in the old house yonder he 249 00:14:36,039 --> 00:14:40,000 is poor and sick. A simple toy will fill his 250 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:45,799 Christmas with gladness. His little sister too, Take her some presents, 251 00:14:45,799 --> 00:14:48,799 said Joel. Make them happy for me, Santa Claus, you 252 00:14:48,879 --> 00:14:54,799 are right, make them happy for me. How sweetly Joel slept. 253 00:14:55,279 --> 00:14:57,879 When he awoke, the sunlight streamed in through the window 254 00:14:57,919 --> 00:15:01,639 and seemed to bid him a merry Christmas. How contented 255 00:15:01,679 --> 00:15:04,879 and happy Joel felt it must have been the talk 256 00:15:04,919 --> 00:15:07,559 with Santa Claus that did it all. He had never 257 00:15:07,639 --> 00:15:11,519 known a sweeter sense of peace. A little girl came 258 00:15:11,559 --> 00:15:14,120 out of the house over the way. She had a 259 00:15:14,159 --> 00:15:16,159 new doll in her arms, and she sang a merry 260 00:15:16,159 --> 00:15:18,480 little song, and she laughed with joy as she skipped 261 00:15:18,519 --> 00:15:22,000 along the street. I And at the window sat the 262 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,399 little sick boy, and the toy Santa Claus left him 263 00:15:25,399 --> 00:15:28,279 seemed to have brought him strength and health, for his 264 00:15:28,399 --> 00:15:31,759 eyes sparkled, and his cheeks glowed, and it was plain 265 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,240 to see his heart was full of happiness. And oh, 266 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:38,000 how the chimes did ring out, and how joyfully they 267 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:41,879 sang their Christmas carol that morning they sang of Bethlehem, 268 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:45,919 and the Manger and the Babe. They sang of love 269 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,799 and charity, till all the Christmas air seemed full of 270 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:53,360 angel voices. Carol of the Christmas Morn, Carol of the 271 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:57,559 christ Child born, Carol to the listening sky till it 272 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:02,120 echoes back again. Glory be to God on high, Peace 273 00:16:02,159 --> 00:16:07,080 on earth, good will toward men. So all this music, 274 00:16:07,679 --> 00:16:10,720 the carol of the chimes, the sound of children's voices, 275 00:16:10,759 --> 00:16:12,919 the smile of the poor little boy over the way, 276 00:16:13,759 --> 00:16:18,360 all this sweet music crept into Joel's heart that Christmas morning. Yes, 277 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:22,320 and with these sweet holy influences came others, so subtle 278 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,879 and divine that, in its silent communion with them, Joel's 279 00:16:25,879 --> 00:16:29,799 heart cried out, Amen and Amen to the glory of 280 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:35,159 the Christmas Time. End of Joel's talk was Santa Claus 281 00:16:35,519 --> 00:16:36,679 by Eugene Field