Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Kiddo,

'Twas 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;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn 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 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 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 coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.


And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, 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 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!
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, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I 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!"


I sincerely hope that Christmas always fills your spirit with a fantastic sensation of joy and good cheer. Remember the reason that this sacred night is celebrated and may you always be careful not to get caught up in the commercial worldly ways of the holidays. Be sure that your stocking is hung with care and leave a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for the fat man in the red suit. It is always better to give than it is to receive.

Track Santa

The Grumpy Old Neighbor

There once existed on a quiet suburban street, a simple house. This house was a nice house in a nice community and was the dwelling place of a small family, a mother and two sons, and the cost of living there was exactly the amount the family could afford. The mother was sternly against the idea of her children living in any less of living conditions and so she toiled with no end to make sure they were able to remain there.

The neighbor, an elderly and somewhat grumpy of an individual, had worked hard for many years and now rested comfortably on the retirement he was able to establish over time. The man's wife had passed a few years before and they never did have children so most of their money had been put away. The neighbor always found the antics of the eldest boy next door rather annoying.

Then one winter day, the old man found that his walk way was covered in snow! He simply could not have this because he had to have the way to his mailbox cleared. He was not the young spry boy he once was able to trample through the snow to get to it. The old man noticed the young man next door shoveling the walk for his family, so he approached the boy with a job offer to clear his walk as well. The boy agreed and after finishing his family's walk way began to clear also the old man's.

When the work was done the old man asked of the boy, "How much do I owe you for your service?" The boy replied that he would not accept money at all, but instead wanted to have 3 days access to the old man's garage, tools, and three pieces of wood. The old man was very much surprised by the boy's noble request and slightly reluctant he finally agreed.

Three days latter it was Christmas Eve. The old man, eagerly curious by the young boys constant diligence the past three days approached the young man and asked of him what he had been doing during this time. The boy looked up at him and handed him a fantastically crafted wooden toy. "Merry Christmas," the boy exclaimed. The boy asked for three pieces of wood because he had made a wooden toy for his brother, his mother, and the old man. He then went on to explain to the shocked grumpy old neighbor, how his mother had taught him the importance of family over money and how having someone that you can count on is worth more than any amount of gold.