Explore "Long Afore he Knowed who Santy-Claus Wuz. (Sweet-Knot and Galamus)" by James Whitcomb Riley on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Jes' a little bit o' feller -- I remember still, -- / Ust to almost _cry_ far Christmas, like a youngster will. / Fourth o' July's nothin' to it! -- New-Year's ain't a smell: / Easter-Sunday -- Circus-day -- jes' all dead in the shell! / Lordy, though! at night, you know, to set around and hear / The old folks work the story off about the sledge and deer, / And "Santy" skootin' round the roof, all wrapped in fur and fuzz -- / Long afore / I knowed who / "Santy-Claus" wuz!
Ust to wait, and set up late, a week er two ahead: / Couldn't hardly keep awake, ner wouldn't go to bed: / Kittle stewin' on the fire, and Mother settin' here / Darnin' socks, and rockin' in the skreeky rockin'-cheer; / Pap gap', and wunder where it wuz the money went, / And quar'l with his frosted heels, and spill his liniment: / And me a-dreamin' sleigh-bells when the clock 'ud whir and buzz, / Long afore / I knowed who / "Santy-Claus" wuz!