King Winter

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
King Winter by author unknown. The sky is dull and gray,
piercing and chill. The blast each step resounds on the
frosty ground. Winter is come at last. Mamma sits by
the fire, her little ones round her knees. How cozy
we are, Mamma, They cry, tell us something. If you
please tell us about King Winter and about Jack Frost,

(00:23):
his man will not be noisy or naughty at all,
but as good as ever we can well, then, says mamma. You,
Jenny may knit and listen, my dear, and Johnny may
split up wood to make the fire burn bright and clear.
King Winter dwells in the north, far away, in the
frozen zone, in a palace of snow. He holds his

(00:43):
court and sits on an icy throne. He has cushions,
of course, his queen made them out of her wedding gown,
stuffing them well with snowflakes, fine and soft as eiderdown.
The king has a trusty servant, Jack Frost is his name.
His nose his raspberry red. His beard is white and
stiff as a crutch. It grows old. Jack is a

(01:06):
sturdy good fellow and serves their majesties well he's here,
and he's there, and he's everywhere, and does more than
I can tell. Each year. As the day comes round,
the King and his royal train set off on a
tour through the wide wide world and sweep over mountain
and plain. His Majesty fails not to visit every climb

(01:27):
that's not too hot to look in upon, both high
and low, from the palace down to the cot. Jack
Frost has a busy time then, but he's helped and
advised by the Queen that all may be right when
the King goes forth, and everything fit to be seen,
that the King may have pleasant travel and no stone

(01:47):
hurt his royal toe. Her Majesty spreads all over the
earth a carpet of downy snow. Find mirrors the King
delights in. None are finer than Jack can make, and
in matchless sheets of crest still clear. He lays them
on river and lake. The trees all naked and drear,
he robes in the purest white and with icicles shining

(02:09):
with rainbow hues. He makes their branches bright, And for
what of buds and blossoms to strew in his Majesty's
way with magic flowers of his own device. He makes
the windows gay. These wonders wrought in a single night,
may well excite surprise. Amazed is the sun when he
gets up at dawn, and he stares with all his eyes.

(02:32):
Then out come all the boys and girls Jack's handiwork
to view, and their noses and cheeks turned red with cold.
Some of them even turn blue. They pelt each other
with snow, rolled it up in a mighty ball, and
shout and laugh, and scamper about and heels over head
they fall. They make a huge man of snow, as

(02:52):
grand as a Russian tsar, a wooden sword in his hand,
in his mouth, a carriage to serve for cigar, his eyes,
his hair, and his beard. They paint as black as
my shoe with burnt stick. But they spoil his nose,
for they stick it rather askew. Then what do you
think for a cock shot? They take him, They pelt

(03:12):
him and hit. They knock of the snow man's ears
and nose, but he does not mind it a bit.
Hooray for the good thick ice. Oh, isn't it jolly?
They slide, they skate in and sleighs so fine they go,
and swift as the wind they glide. King Winter laughs
at the sport, cries bravo, and clasps his hands and

(03:32):
calling in haste for his man, Jack Frost. He gives
him these commands. Go see the papas and mammas and
bring me word what they say. Have the children been
good and well behaved since last I came this way?
The King trims Christmas trees to give to good girls
and boys with tapers and trinkets of silver and gold,

(03:54):
and all sorts of dainties and toys. The Queen cuts
twigs of birch so supple and keen, and daintily ties
them up into rods, the finest that ever were seen. Soon,
with this word to the King, Jack Frost comes back
at a trot. Good have most of the children been?
But some of them have not? The King gives him

(04:17):
the pretty trees, the Queen the rods so smart, and
away goes Jack again with his load. Till every house
has its part, cakes, mince pies, nuts and apples. Good
children get from the king. You can guess what the
naughty get. The rods are the only thing. Oh, dear Mamma,
cries Jenny, Johnny's been good, and so have I pray,

(04:40):
tell Jack Frost, we don't want the rod, oh do
ask him to put it by? Mamma smiles on her darlings.
They run to her, kiss her, and say how long
do you think will it be? Mamma? Ere King Winter
goes away, he will lay upon baby's cradle the snow
drops that early come forth, and then, my DearS, he

(05:00):
will bid us good bye and go back to his
home in the north end of King Winter