Night Before Christmas

It was the night before Christmas
when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung
by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there...."

Those Christmases from long ago come back
--people that are gone, dreams that have come true
And some that have vanished--

And Ma in her kerchief
And I in my cap,
Had just settled down
To a long winter's nap -
When out on the lawn
There rose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

I remember Daddy reading to us by firelight,
All of us children snuggle up together, in our pajamas,
All ready for bed; the fire burning in the grate,
The Mistletoe hanging in the doorway,
The lights flickering on the tree,
Baubles of glass and glittering angels,
Presents wrapped in silver and gold
And green and bright, shiny red.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer..."
"...With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

Daddy would do his shopping on Christmas Eve,
Flying in to the house, flustered and happy,
His arms full of silver and gold and green scarlet paper
And bright tinsel ribbons.
He would hug us all and hug mother,
can hear her my mother's joyful laughter,
remember the taste of her homemade divinity and chocolate fudge
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name

"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch,to the top of the wall!
Now, dash away! Dash away!
Dash away all!"

The glow of candles on the table
And the lights of the Christmas tree reflected in our eyes, sugarplums dancing in our heads,
The Mistletoe hung in the doorway,
The lights flickering on the tree,
Baubles of glass and glittering angels,
Presents wrapped in silver and gold and green and bright, shiney red.

As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

The hidden presents,
The bikes and the sleds and the wagons
Dancing dolls and New Mown Hay perfume.
We would go to bed reluctantl -
Does anybody sleep on Christmas Eve?,
When we finally had to go to bed,
I would be praying in bed with my eyes wide open,
Oh Please, god, no books, no Clothes

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!"

When I was three years old I remember
Waking up and looking out at the living room
At the tree shining bright, sparkling;
All the icicles hung just so
And there was St Nicholas eating a sugar cookie
From the plate mother always left him.
Then I saw Santa Claus put my doll under the tree.
I can still see him , as clear as day.

"....He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump -a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to work,
And filled all the stockings---
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose..."

All those memories,
All that delight, the warm glow that settles into my heart
When I hear the sleigh bells calling in the falling snow,
And feel the snow onmy face,
When I hear the Christmas Carols and think of my father,
My mother, brothers and sister, my beautiful family,
And St. Nicholas,
They were the best of all Christmases...

"...He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all and all a Good Night!"