Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WHAT LITTLE SAUL GOT, CHRISTMAS, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WHAT LITTLE SAUL GOT, CHRISTMAS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Us parents mostly thinks our own's
Last Line: "I'm got the pleurisy!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Children; Christmas; Parents; Sickness; Childhood; Nativity, The; Parenthood; Illness


US parents mostly thinks our own's
The smartest childern out!
But Widder Shelton's little Saul
Beats all I know about!
He's weakly-like -- in p'int o' health,
But strong in word and deed
And heart and head, and snap and spunk,
And allus in the lead!

Comes honest by it, fer his Pa --
Afore he passed away --
He was a leader -- (Lord, I'd like
To hear him preach to-day!)
He led his flock; he led in prayer
Fer spread o' Peace -- and when
Nothin' but War could spread it, he
Was first to lead us then!

So little Saul has grit to take
Things jes' as they occur;
And Sister Shelton's proud o' him
As he is proud o' her!
And when she "got up" -- jes' fer him
And little playmates all --
A Chris'mus-tree -- they ever'one
Was there but little Saul.

Pore little chap was sick in bed
Next room; and Doc was there,
And said the childern might file past,
But go right back to where
The tree was, in the settin'-room.
And Saul jes' laid and smiled --
Ner couldn't nod, ner wave his hand,
It hurt so -- Bless the child!

And so they left him there with Doc --
And warm tear of his Ma's . . .
Then -- suddent-like -- high over all
Their laughture and applause --
They heerd: "I don't care what you git
On yer old Chris'mus-tree,
'Cause I'm got somepin' you all hain't --
I'm got the pleurisy!"





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