Thursday, December 17, 2009

Jest 'Fore Christmas

This was a funny little poem I had to memorize in junior high. I always loved that the little boy really started to behave "Jest 'Fore Christmas". I didn't know then that I would have 6 children someday who might try to do the same :-) Having 4 boys sure helps me understand some of his antics too. This is all of my children at Christmas in 2000. Wow, where has the time gone?

Jest 'Fore Christmas

    FATHER calls me William, sister calls me Will,
    Mother calls me Willie but the fellers call me Bill!
    Mighty glad I ain't a girl---ruther be a boy,
    Without them sashes curls an' things that's worn by Fauntleroy!
    Love to chawnk green apples an' go swimmin' in the lake--
    Hate to take the castor-ile they give for belly-ache!
    'Most all the time, the whole year round, there ain't no flies on me,
    But jest'fore Christmas I'm as good as I kin be!

    Got a yeller dog named Sport, sick him on the cat.
    First thing she knows she doesn't know where she is at!
    Got a clipper sled, an' when us kids goes out to slide,
    'Long comes the grocery cart, an' we all hook a ride!
    But sometimes when the grocery man is worrited an' cross,
    He reaches at us with his whip, an' larrups up his hoss,
    An' then I laff an' holler, "Oh, ye never teched me!"
    But jest'fore Christmas I'm as good as I kin be!

    Gran'ma says she hopes that when I git to be a man,
    I'll be a missionarer like her oldest brother, Dan,
    As was et up by the cannibals that live in Ceylon's Isle,
    Where every prospeck pleases, an' only man is vile!
    But gran'ma she has never been to see a Wild West show,
    Nor read the life of Daniel Boone, or else I guess she'd know
    That Buff'lo Bill an' cowboys is good enough for me!
    Excep' jest 'fore Christmas, when I'm as good as I kin be!

    And then old Sport he hangs around, so solemn-like an' still,
    His eyes they seem a-sayin': "What's the matter, little Bill?"
    The old cat sneaks down off her perch an' wonders what's become
    Of them two enemies of hern that used to make things hum!
    But I am so perlite an' tend so earnestly to biz,
    That mother says to father: "How improved our Willie is!"
    But father, havin' been a boy hisself, suspicions me
    When, jest 'fore Christmas, I'm as good as I kin be!

    For Christmas, with its lots an' lots of candies, cakes an' toys,
    Was made, they say, for proper kids an' not for naughty boys;
    So wash yer face an' bresh yer hair, an' mind yer p's and q's,
    And don't bust out yer pantaloons, and don't wear out yer shoes;
    Say "Yessum" to the ladies, and "Yessur" to the men,
    An' when they's company, don'a pass yer plate for pie again;
    But, thinkin' of the things yer'd like to see upon that tree,
    Jest 'fore Christmas be as good as yer kin be!
    Eugene Field
Blessings,
Marcia

23 comments:

  1. oh my goodness! i didn't even recognize your blog when i got here:-) Fun and cute new photos!! You have a lovely and graceful style.

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  2. That was so much fun! Thanks for sharing - I'll have to have a word with my 8 y.0. son, see what he's up to....LOL!
    Merry Christmas wishes!
    Christine

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  3. How cute! And what a handsome family you have. Life must be very busy in your home with 6 kids. It was as I grew up with 4 of us with my parents. We have no children so our Christmas is quiet. Did you get photos each year with all the kids together with Santa so you can see them grow?

    I misssed your last blog post but loved seeing your vintage Christmas. My eye fell on your beautiful book! I collect vintage books too. It is a passion of mine. I have been looking for this book now online. Postage is becoming so much by the bookshops anymore. It has almost doubled this year. I love finding books with pretty covers as I too use them as decoration. My new header photo has my latest addition which is sitting on the top of a stack of Christmas themed books.

    Hugs ~
    Heidi

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  4. CUTE picture! Time does go by so fast, huh?? I'm impressed that your babies aren't crying. Mine were all afraid of Santa.. some still are a little bit. ;)

    Thanks for sharing that cute poem...

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  5. Cute poem and picture. Thanks for sharing and adding a smile to my day.

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  6. Love that poem! :) It reads very much like an Edgar Guest piece and that's the style I like.
    Your family photo with Santa is adorable! Time does fly, doesn't it?
    I hope that you and yours have a blessed and merry Christmas! :)

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  7. I don't think I ever remember reading this poem!! I LOVE it! I have only 2 boys, but I sure get the idea! :)
    Love that picture! Santa does seem a bit bewildered though! hahaha! Time goes by way too fast! Dan and I were just talking about how the 7 and 4 year old will cough and sneeze all over us (not to mention other "stuff" hahaha) and I said - Oh, I am going to miss it when we no longer have a young child! : )
    Thanks for sharing this!

    Leanne

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  8. What an adorable poem. Love the Santa and kids picture.

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  9. What a beautiful family you have. Thanks for visiting my vintage post cards, I will be back.

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  10. What a beautiful family. Time really does move too quickly!

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  11. Enjoyed it very much...and all the more because it was sandwiched between the vintage family photo and the angellic little devil!

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  12. Oh so fun! I enjoyed his post~
    Christmas Wishes~
    Carrie

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  13. WOW...what a beautiful family...twins too? and thats a long poem to memorize! Very cute! :D

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  14. Your family is so so lovely...thank you for visiting me the other day and leaving such a sweet comment. Your blog is beauitful...I love the Christmas wallpaper.

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  15. Beautiful poem, and what a darling Christmas photo. Beautiful Blog I had a nice visit.

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  16. Oh I know, Marcia...how do they all grow so fast. My kids go like this, Sean 28, the twins Lauren & Shannon are 24, Grace is 19 and Taryn is 15. I am one of seven children myself. In fact, Diane, the gal who left you the previous comment...is my sister! Funny how we followed each other here tonight! Your family is beautiful...both then and now. Thanks for your sweet comment about my "stocking story". I enjoyed telling the tale.

    Merry Christmas,
    I am going to add you to my dashboard right now.

    Stay Cozy, Carrie

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  17. Your kids Santa picture is so cute. Your twins were little chubs.
    Aren't Santa pictures fun. I love to look back at them and see how they have grown in just a year. Someday, I want to do an album with all my boys Santa pictures and all the grandkids.
    And....I can't believe you memorized that whole poem. How funny it is.

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  18. Loved the poem very much....you have a very handsome family. I homeschooled my children and loved it (although not every day, truth be told!) I feel its the greatest gift you can give to them. I would do it all over again.

    Jerri

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  19. That poem is adorable!! But not nearly as precious as your kids photo! PRICELESS! You are indeed blessed this Christmas!

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  20. Funny poem! Loved the photo of your beautiful family! I also like the photo of them you have in your sidebar!

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  21. HI Marcia! Oh, what a precious picture of your little angels! :)
    That little poem is so cute! I have heard this before. Love the graphic too.
    Be a sweetie and Merry Christmas to you,
    Shelia ;)

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  22. Wow! What beautiful children you have! Thanks for the poem, so cute! Merry Christmas to your lovely family, I have 6 brothers so I know how you feel! Cindy

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  23. I remember this poem! It's a shame that children don't memorize poems like this anymore. Such a wonderful experience. I can still remember many of the poems I learned as a child. Thanks for sharing this and sparking a beautiful memory! ~ Sarah

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Thanks so much for stopping by :)
Blessings,
Marcia