Twas the night before Christmas and all through G's house

Not a creature was stirring 'cept Caspian chasing a mouse.

The swords were all sharpened with extreme care

In hopes to catch the fat man entering the lair.

The Horsemen were nestled all snug in their beds

While visions of pillagery danced through their heads

And G, wearing nothing but her favorite nightcap

Had just settled down for hopefully a nap

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter

She rose from bed expecting to see Dunkie splattered

Away to the window she flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to her exhausted eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

She 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, Darius! now, Richie! now, Charlie and Amanda, you VIXEN!

On, Anne! on Cassandra! on, Tessa and FitzEN!

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 coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, she heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As she drew in her head, and was turning around,

Down to the living room K. came with a bound.

St. Nick was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had looking just fine,

And K. starting shouting "That bag is all MINE!"

St. Nick's eyes -- how they grew! 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 he chuckled and smiled and said "Is that so?"

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke annoyed K. and only made his seethe;

K. saw he had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed and reminded K. of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a revolting old elf,

And K. decided to take care of the fat guy himself;

A wink of his eye and a reach for his sword,

K. prepared to get his just reward;

K. spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And would have had Nick dead to right 'cept he turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney Nick 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 from the fun ,

"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!"