Mummy and Daddy, I think, were asleep.

As round their door I had a wee peep.

So I crept down the stairs to look at the tree,

And Santa Claus smiled - and winked at me.

He was sorting some parcels out there on the floor,

There were many more there than there had been before.

I just stood - 'cos I didn't know where to go,

And Santa Claus smiled - and whispered "Ho Ho".

I looked through the window and saw a big star,

Way out on its own - so bright and so far.

And I thought of the baby asleep in his bed,

And Santa Claus smiled - and patted my head.

I rushed back upstairs and dived into bed,

And pulled all the covers right over my head.

Had I been dreaming or was it all true?

Had Santa Claus smiled - and said "Toodle oo?"

When I told Daddy, he said "you are a nellie,

You've been eating too much ice cream and jelly."

But he's only a 'grown up', and he'd never see,

That Santa Claus did smile - AND HE DID WINK AT ME. By George H Platt

Lea Gate Close

Bradshaw

Bolton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.