Christmas Helpers

I went to the forest and asked of the trees, As bowing and swaying, they bent to the breeze, “Now, tell me, my brothers, now, tell, if you please, Just what can you do for Christmas?” And straightway they answered, the dark, lofty trees As spicy and fragrant, they waved in the breeze, “We’re trying our best to grow tall, if you please, We’re trying to grow for Christmas!”

I passed by the draper’s and saw in a box, Such masses of stockings, both plain and with clocks; And eager I asked them, “My sweet little socks, Now what will you do for Christmas?” And straightway they answered from out of their box, Those stout-footed stockings, both plain and with clocks,-- “We’ll try to fulfill the first duty of socks,-- We’ll try to keep whole for Christmas!”

I entered the toy shop and said to the toys-- Such wonderful treasures for girls and for boys! “You dear, pretty playthings, you holiday joys, Pray, what will you do for Christmas?” And straightway they answered, those shining new toys, Those marvelous presents for girls and for boys, “To play with a child is the chief of our joys; We’ll visit them all on Christmas.”

To cloudland I wandered and asked of the snow, As dancing and whirling, it sped to and fro, “Now, tell me, fair snowflakes,--I long so to know, Just what are your plans for Christmas!” And straightway they answered, the soft flakes of snow, As circling and floating, they flew to and fro, “We think we should do the best thing, do you know, If we fell thick and white for Christmas.”

I climbed to the belfry and questioned the bell, All murm’ring with sound, like the heart of a shell, “Now, tell me, my silver-tongue, truthfully tell, What song will you sing on Christmas?” And straightway the resonant voice of the bell All vibrant with sound like a tropical shell, Replied, “The glad message I’ll joyfully tell, I’ll ring the Good News on Christmas!”

I asked of the tapers, the stars and each light That blooms in the heavenly garden of night:-- “Now, tell me, ye shining ones, lovely and bright, What best can you do for Christmas?” And straightway they answered, star, taper and light, All blooming and fair in the garden of night;-- “O’er land and o’er ocean, we’ll beam clear and bright, We’ll shine out our best for Christmas!”