'Twas Christmas Eve and long ago
When Santa came to town
To the home of this little girl
One year old; he must have known.
When Santa saw this little toddler
Just learning how to walk
He thought of this one small little gift
That might just make her talk.
From his bag, he gave a yank
A little red rocker was in his hand
It had a woven cane bottom seat
The little red rocker looked so grand.
The toddler would sit and rock and rock
But oft' time falling asleep
Just sitting there - - drifting into dreamland
Santa's gift she'd always keep.
The years went by and the toddler grew up
The little red rocker she had outgrown
Into storage it went until
The right time would come - never to be alone.
One day her Mother decided
This dull red rocker, scratched and marred
Should get a bright red coat of paint
But what to do with the seat so tattered?
Bessie MelVina Carathers
September 2, 2007
Her mother was so very good
Cutting out things and sewing things
She padded over the tattered cane
Some pretty cloth was added on.
By now this little girl was married
To Klamath Falls she had fled
When Mother went to visit her
Would she tote this little rocker so red?
Mother arrived with Red Rocker in tow
Needless to say a look of surprise
Came upon the face of the grown little girl.
For happy tears appeared in her eyes.
Little Red Rocker was home at last
Never more to roam
It sat beside the big comfy chairs
And made itself right at home.
Some 80 years later this Little Red Rocker
Has a Teddy Bear sitting in it
At Calico Meadows where it now resides
Has lots of memories, this writer will admit.
For you see, I'm that little girl
That Santa came to see so long ago
And all that happy memories forever I'll keep
All that I am, to my Mother I owe.