Song: Christmas is a Coming

By: Bing Crosby

Start song at (1)


Once they landed the Alligators waited for the group to disembark then they swam out to the middle of the water and sank below.

"Zey vill take boat back to the swamp and be back in a jiffy," North assured everyone, and just as he said the animals returned in barely any time at all.

They followed Jack back to the tree now empty of the previous visitors. The Alligators continued on but when North saw Jack lingering at the tree he turned back. "Jack, you coming?"

"I'll be there in a bit." The Guardian of Fun said. North nodded and ushered the children spirits and legends back to the festival. Once they were back with their parents North started for the other Guardians but a sound on the wind caused him to rethink.

(1) "When I'm feeling blue and when I'm feeling low, then I start to think about the happiest man I know. He doesn't mind the snow and he doesn't mind the rain. But all December you will see him at your window pane. Singing again and again and again and again and again.

North went back through the forest to the tree where Jack was lounging in the branches beside the woodie decorations. Singing happily about a man who never took time to worry or fret because his philosophy was that the more you give the more you get. Keeping out of sight North watched Jack sing contentedly.

"Christmas time is coming and the egg is in the Nog, please to give a friendly man a friendly little dog. If you haven't got a friendly dog a friendly cat will do. If you haven't got a friendly cat then God bless you."

"Vonder if this is a true story or not?" North pondered as Jack continued. In this verse, the man asked for a turkey leg or a wing. Ending once again with a 'God bless you'. "If it is zen zis truly vas a very contented man.

"Christmas is a coming and the Ciders in the Keg, if I had a mug of Cider I wouldn't have to beg. If you haven't got a mug of Cider half a mug will do. If you haven't got a half a mug may God bless you."

"Are you singing about yourself?" North continued to ponder. Jack didn't seem sad as he sang but….

"If you haven't got a thing for me, may God bless you!" Jack finished with a deep note. With a contented shy Jack smiled at the wind and she picked him up off the tree.

North went back a ways on the path and 'met' Jack as he flew back to the festival. Deciding that, for now at least, he would not ask Jack about his song North struck up a simple conversation about the Christmas animals they had spent time with this evening. Jack was happy to oblige in the conversation and North was relieved to see real joy in the spirit's face instead of a hidden sadness that he'd worried about seeing. Still privately North decided to up his deliveries, go back to giving meals and warm clothes as well as toys to those who needed a little extra help. After all, the more wonder out there the more wonder was spread to others, and in its wake the more faith, hope, and love.