Father Christmas and the elephant

Father Christmas and the elephant

Father Christmas and the Elephant

Rudolph knocked on Santa’s door,
“I cannot come tonight,
But I have found a helper, sir,
I hope he’ll be all right.”

“I found him living at the zoo,
He’s very big and strong,
He’ll carry twice the usual load,
You simply can’t go wrong.”

Then Santa chuckled, “Ho, ho, ho,
Well, bring him round to me.”
But when he saw his helper’s size,
He spilt his cup of tea.

“An elephant?” cried Father Christmas,
“You’re having me on, dear.
How will I get him on a roof?
He’ll flatten half the street!”

They strapped the sacks upon his back,
With ribbons neatly tied,
And Santa found a little space,
Where he could sit and ride.

They hung some bells upon his tail,
He shook them with delight,
Then Santa sprinkled magic dust,
And off they flew that night.

They rose above the chimney pots,
Then wobbled past the moon,
“Slow down!” cried frightened Father Christmas,
“We’ll get there far too soon!”

His great big ears went flapping round,
They blew off Santa’s hat,
He caught it neatly with his trunk,
“Well, fancy doing that!”

But then he tried a little turn,
And Santa slid about,
He grabbed a sack with both his hands,
“Just watch!” he tried to shout.

The elephant flew through a cloud,
And gave a mighty sneeze,
A teddy landed on a roof,
Some slippers in the trees.

“Go back!” cried worried Father Christmas,
“We cannot leave them there.”
The elephant scooped up the gifts,
And tossed them through the air.

Then Santa caught the teddy bear,
The slippers hit his head,
“If Rudolph could just see me now,
He’d wish he’d come instead!”

They headed for a chimney pot,
But couldn’t quite get near,
“You’ll never fit your foot in that,
There’s no use trying, dear!”

The elephant began to land,
But caught against a tree,
And Santa tumbled down his neck,
“Oh, dear! What’s happened to me?”

His trousers caught upon a tusk,
His boots swung to and fro,
“Don’t move!” cried dangling Father Christmas,
“There’s nowhere else to go!”

The elephant curled up his trunk,
And set him on the ground,
Then Santa checked his trousers through,
While no one was around.

The sacks were tangled in the tree,
The branches held them tight,
“Well, this is something rather new,
For me on Christmas night.”

He knocked upon the nearest door,
Then knocked on several more,
And sleepy people rubbed their eyes,
As Santa crossed the floor.

“Now bring your slippers and your coats,
And follow after me,
Your presents will be given out,
Beneath the great big tree.”

The children hurried through the snow,
Their parents came along,
And when they saw the elephant,
They laughed and sang a song.

He reached his trunk between the boughs,
And gently pulled each sack,
Then passed the presents down to them,
From high upon his back.

A little girl received her doll,
A boy his shiny train,
An old man got some woolly socks,
And joined the queue again.

“I’ve seen you once!” cried Father Christmas,
“You’ve had your socks, I know.”
The old man grinned and waved at him,
Then shuffled through the snow.

They brought the elephant some fruit,
And Santa something hot,
Then stood together round the tree,
Enjoying what they’d got.

The elephant stood tall and proud,
His bells began to ring,
And Santa said, “You’ve done quite well,
For such a great big thing.”

When they arrived back home at last,
The sky was turning light,
And Rudolph stood beside the door,
“Well, did it go all right?”

Then Santa showed his torn red trousers,
And shook his weary head,
Next year, you’re coming out with me,
The elephant stays in bed!