Old Gentleman Gray
Author Unknown
Said Old Gentleman Gray, “On Christmas Day, if you want to be happy give something away.”
So he sent a fat turkey to Shoemaker Price, and the Shoemaker said, “What a big bird! How nice! And since such a good dinner is sent to me, I’ll send poor Widow Lee the fine chicken I bought.
“This fine chicken, oh see,” said the pleased widow Lee, “And the kindness that sent it, how precious to me. I would like to make someone as happy as I. I’ll send Washwoman Biddy, my big pumpkin pie!”
And, “Oh sure,” Biddy said, “Tis the queen of all pies! Just to look at its yellow face gladdens my eyes. Now it’s my turn, I think, and a sweet sugar cake for the motherless Finnegan children I’ll bake.”
Said the Finnegan children, Rose, Denny and Hugh, “It smells sweet of spice, and we’ll carry a slice to poor lame Jake … who has nothing that’s nice.”
“Oh, I thank you and thank you!” said little lame Jake. “I’ll save all the crumbs, and give them to each little sparrow that comes.”
And the sparrows they twittered as if they could say, like old Gentleman Gray, “On a great Christmas Day, if you want to be happy, give something away.”
