Bring back the Christmas that I used to know The gleaming windows piled high with snow The sleigh bells jingling in the frosty air The smell and feel of Christmas everywhere The golden straw heaped high within the sleigh The blankets with the smell of new mown hay The horses stamping, prancing in the cold Who can recall those dear sweet days of old ? Within the house the smell of hickory wood Giving out warmth where Grandpa stood Rubbing his hands above the ruddy glow While standing in a pool of melted snow Just off the kitchen is the pantry so cold But I loved in there to sneak, in days of old To steal a cookie from the old stone jar And gaze on pies and cakes for relatives,  coming from afar The sausage hung in rings up o?er my head And on the shelves were loaves of  golden home made bread The turkeys gobbled outside in their pen The goose was hanging from a rafter beam And over in the corner in a pan Molasses candy made you drool again And popcorn balls were also heaped up high We children ate and ate, till Mother said -? you?ll die!? And every evening all winter long Her knitting needles flew while she hummed a song About the shepherds in a far off day And the little baby born ,within a bed of hay And then on Christmas Eve, out came the sleigh With good old Maude and Ned we whisked away Off to the schoolhouse where a gleaming tree Stood straight and tall for everyone to see On Friday it had been a bleak schoolroom Which oftentimes you felt was most like a tomb So bleak and bare, it?s cracked and dirty walls While cold seeped in and made you pause And shiver while you tried to memorize And wipe the smoke and grime from out your eyes But now what magic change has Christmas wrought ! The old box stove is gleaming red and hot ! The great tree stands a challenge to us all We gasp and catch our breath and gaze in awe ! So bright so gay it?s tinsel gleams  There?s apples, oranges, popcorn balls and children?s dreams How could such a change be wrought in one short day? And then we hear a shout - and jingle bells ! The answer comes, It?s Santa Claus ! - but no one tells  Us why dear Grandpa - stayed home today Said he thought he just would sleep  and  rest throughout the day How could he miss - a gala time like this ? In all our life, we never knew such bliss The home knitted gloves, hoods, sweaters  and mittens all held tight The china dolls so beautiful to see Are all held dear in childhood?s book of memory Oh bye gone days ! We old folks hold you dear And sometimes memory brings a silent tear Then Grandson comes with voice so loud and clear Says Grandma, why did you shed that great big tear ? Just see what Santa Claus has brought to me ! Space helmet, rocket, bike, an electric train and see ! I found this too - upon the Christmas Tree. He holds a tinseled angel old and worn And says, ? I like this best!? - because you see Christ the child was born and that  gave us our Christmas Tree And every year us children, everyone Sing carols about the day when He was born Oh Lord ! my eyes are dim with tears  for you can see Both young and old  appreciate the real true worth of Christmas and our tree Lillie S. Derby