HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-12-19, Page 67w06 the nig t
before C�iistrrlas
wheQall rouglet,
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
sugarplums danced in their heads. And Mamma in-
her
nher kerchief and 1 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 my bed to see what was the
matter. Away to the window t flew like a flash, tore
open the shutters, and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the
new -fallen snow gave a luster of midday 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
& Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donde- r 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 housetop the
coursers they flew With a sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too. And then in
a twinkling, 1 heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I
drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St.
Nicholas came with a bound. 1-fe 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 on his
chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe 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 bowl full of jelly.le was chubby
and plump, a right jolly old elf, and 1 laughed when 1 saw hire in spike of
myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of
his head soon gave me to knw 1 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 1 heard him
exclaim as he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to
all a good night."
•
O C)
11111-111111
Page 17
May
you have a
most enjoyable
holiday season.
Greetings from
all of us.
Goderich
SIGNAL -STAR
The News Port for Goderich and District since 18 4 8
0