'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even our Finn;
The stockings were hung on the chair with care
In hopes that a mantle would soon be there;
Our Calder all nestled and snug in his crib,
While visions of toys danced in his head;
And mamma in her p.j's, and I in my shorts,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,
When out on the road there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the blinds and threw up my eyes.
How I wished for the moon and new-fallen snow
To give the lustre of mid-day to the mud below,
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.
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!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the gang they flew,
With the sleigh full of gifts, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As Finn cocked his 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;
A bundle of gifts 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!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, Finn barked to himself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon let us know we had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
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, ere he drove out of sight,
_"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."_ Merry Christmas to everyone. Especially to the kids out there, and the young at heart. And especially to those young boys and girls who will share future Christmas memories with Calder. Merry Christmas Peter, Olivia, Lauren, Parker, Norah, Brandon, Ethan, Scott, Meredith, Jack and all you others. The spirit of Christmas lives within all of you. We see it in your smiles and laughter.
Goodnight Calder, Daddy loves you!
