3-074-847 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

A Merry Christmas To You! from a photograph by J. Thomson, 1883. '"A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!" With the winter day breaking, Red, sullen, and slow, Our Baby is waking, His bright checks aglow - He will catch Santa Clans as he comes (with his gifts, down the chimney, you know), Now the road's hard and ringing, The flowers have flown, And no birds are singing, And Robin 's alone, We need voices and laughter of children, for the dark and the chill to atone. And what smile could be brighter Than Baby's sweet scorn As day glimmers lighter, And clear in the morn He sees Santa Claus is mamma, and knows how doll-baby was born! Ah, my Boy! your sweet laughter Will lighten the day; No gloom of hereafter O'ershadows your play: You are wiser than we in your mirth - oh, my darling, be glad while you may!'. Edward Rose. From "Illustrated London News", 1883.