Christmas Carols
The Twelve Thank You Notes Of Christmas (Emily To Edward) Lyrics
Dec 25
My dearest darling Edward,
What a wonderful surprise has just greeted me! That sweet partridge, in that lovely little pear-tree; what an enchanting,
romantic, poetic present! Bless you, and thank you.
Your deeply loving
Emily.
Dec 26
Beloved Edward,
The two turtle-doves arrived this morning, and are cooing away in the pear-tree as I write. I'm so touched and grateful!
With undying love, as always,
Emily.
Dec 27
My darling Edward,
You do think of the most original presents! Who ever thought of sending anybody three French hens? Do they really
come all the way from France? It's a pity we have no chicken coops, but I expect we'll find some. Anyway, thank you so
much; they're lovely.
Your devoted Emily.
Dec 28
Dearest Edward,
What a surprise! Four calling birds arrived this morning. They are very sweet, even if they do call rather loudly - they make
telephoning almost impossible - but I expect they'll calm down when they get used to their new home. Anyway, I'm very
grateful, of course I am.
Love from Emily.
Dec 29
Dearest Edward,
The mailman has just delivered five most beautiful gold rings, one for each finger, and all fitting perfectly! A really lovely
present! Lovelier, in a way, than birds, which do take rather a lot of looking after. The four that arrived yesterday are still
making a terrible row, and I'm afraid none of us got much sleep last night. Mother says she wants to use the rings to
"wring" their necks. Mother has such a sense of humor. This time she's only joking, I think, but I do know what she
means. Still, I love the rings.
Bless you,
Emily.
Dec 30
Dear Edward,
Whatever I expected to find when I opened the front door this morning, it certainly wasn't six socking great geese laying
eggs all over the porch. Frankly, I rather hoped that you had stopped sending me birds. We have no room for them, and
they've already ruined the croquet lawn. I know you meant well, but let's call a halt, shall we?
Love,
Emily.
Dec 31
Edward,
I thought I said NO MORE BIRDS. This morning I woke up to find no more than seven swans, all trying to get into our tiny
goldfish pond. I'd rather not think what's happened to the goldfish. The whole house seems to be full of birds, to say
nothing of what they leave behind them, so please, please, stop!
Your Emily.
Jan 1
Frankly, I prefer the birds. What am I to do with eight milkmaids? And their cows! Is this some kind of a joke? If so, I'm
afraid I don't find it very amusing.
Emily.
Jan 2
Look here, Edward,
This has gone far enough. You say you're sending me nine ladies dancing. All I can say is, judging from the way they
dance, they're certainly not ladies. The village just isn't accustomed to seeing a regiment of shameless viragos, with
nothing on but their lipstick, cavorting round the green, and it's Mother and I who get the blame. If you value our friends,
which I do (less and less), kindly stop this ridiculous behavior at once!
Emily.
Jan 3
As I write this letter, ten disgusting old men are prancing up and down all over what used to be the garden, before the
geese and the swans and the cows got at it. And several of them, I have just noticed, are taking inexcusable liberties with
the milkmaids. Meanwhile the neighbors are trying to have us evicted. I shall never speak to you again.
Emily.
Jan 4
This is the last straw! You know I detest bagpipes! The place has now become something between a menagerie and a
madhouse, and a man from the council has just declared it unfit for habitation. At least Mother has been spared this last
outrage; they took her away yesterday afternoon in an ambulance to a home for the bewildered. I hope you're satisfied.
Sir, Jan 5
Our client, Miss Emily Wilbraham, instructs me to inform you that with the arrival on her premises at 7:30 this morning of the
entire percussion section of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and several of their friends, she has no course left open to
her but to seek an injunction to prevent you importuning her further. I am making arrangements for the return of much
assorted livestock.
I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
G. Creep
Attorney at law.