De win’ is hollahin’ “Daih you” to de shuttahs an’ de fiah,
De snow's a-sayin’ “Got you” to de groun’,
Fu’ de wintah weathah‘ s come widout a-askin’ ouah desiah,
An’ he‘ s laughin’ in his sleeve at whut he foun’;
Fu’ dey ai n't nobody ready wid dey fuel er dey food,
An’ de money bag look timid lak, fu’ sho’,
So we want ouah Chrismus sermon, but we‘ d lak it ef you could
Leave a little Chrismus basket at de do’.
Wha‘ s de use o’ tellin’ chillen‘ bout a Santy er a Nick,
An’ de sto'ies dat a body allus tol’?
When de harf is gray wid ashes an’ you has n't got a stick
Fu’ to warm dem when dey little toes is col’?
Wha‘ s de use o’ preachin’‘ ligion to a man dat's sta'ved to def,
An’ a-tellin’ him de Mastah will pu'vide?
Ef you want to tech his feelin's, save yo’ sermons an’ yo’ bref,
Tek a little Chrismus basket by yo’ side.
‘ T ai n't de time to open Bibles an’ to lock yo’ cellah do’,
‘ T ai n't de time to talk o’ bein’ good to men;
Ef you want to preach a sermon ez you nevah preached befo’,
Preach dat sermon wid a shoat er wid er hen;
Bein’ good is heap sight bettah den a-dallyin’ wid sin,
An’ dey ai n't nobody roun’ dat knows it mo’,
But I t'ink dat‘ ligion‘ s sweeter w'en it kind o’ mixes in
Wid a little Chrismus basket at de do’.