Show LINES by LIZA throe three weeks before christmas and all through the land I 1 not a load of coal rolled not a miner raised his hand the pay checks were budgeted with the greatest of care in hope that enough dough for st nick would be there the children tossed fitfully in their little beds while iwhite fever and colds ravaged their heads mamma in her coat and 1 I in boots and cap H huddled over the stove too miserable to nap the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow showed the temperatures dropping to zero and below when what to my horrified sight should appear but two bushy eyebrows that filled me with fear al more ore timid than 11 mice i j ce his cou cour couriers coursers rs sers e rs they came and he blustered and shouted and called them by name now welshman now pole now slav coal miners all come union men come pull together or fall As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly when they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky so up to the court house the strikers they flew with more new demands and john L lewis ew is too an and d then every day by air and by press the people all heard of the terrible mess the railroads all stopping the schools closing down A pall of unhappiness over city and town sickness and need cold and privation christmas a travesty across the whole nation so jolly st nick has been shoved shored out of place and behold the newcomer with harsh severe face there is nothing about him that looks like an elf I 1 tremble to think of him in spite of myself the set of his jaw and the thrust of his head bead fills folk braver than 1 I with indescribable dread how I 1 wish by some or prowess or might this ogre could be routed and put to full flight then st nick could take over with his usual good cheer to brighten our christmas and bring hope for the new year I 1 feel a bit guilty to use a beloved old verse for such a sad parody y it is like so many phases of our oar present day though sad parodies on what used to be genuine good living we are not badly off here though we still keep warm well fed have fun and love our neighbors small country towns like small children seem to fare better in these serious crises the thunder rolls over while we tuck ourselves safely in gods pocket I 1 hope we may always be secure if this spring weather continues another few days the th e neighbors jare are going to see me outs out poking the tulips down and knitting mittens for the lilac trees buy buy now for christmas F E IV |