If Santa Claus should stumble,
As he climbs the chimney tall
With all this ice upon it,
I’m ‘fraid he’d get a fall
And smash himself to pieces—
To say nothing of the toys!
Dear me, what sorrow that would bring
To all the girls and boys!
So I am going to write a note
And pin it to the gate,—
I’ll write it large, so he can see,
No matter if it’s late,—
And say, “Dear Santa Claus, don’t try
To climb the roof to-night,
But walk right in, the door’s unlocked,
The nursery’s on the right!”
A Christmas-Eve Thought
Summary
"A Christmas-Eve Thought" is a Christmas poem told from the perspective of a caring child worried that an icy chimney could cause Santa Claus to slip and fall — destroying both himself and all the toys he carries. With sweet urgency, the child devises a practical solution: leaving a note at the gate inviting Santa to simply walk through the unlocked front door. The poem captures a child's tender mix of concern, logic, and seasonal wonder in just a few charming lines.
