The Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-12-03, Page 31no Kgncarrccino G:i c.7s4'Qfft 2unko ego GOcwon
`Twas the nigh 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
through their heads;
And Mama in her `kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains 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 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 a lustre of midday to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes did
appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny
reindeer.
With a little old driver so lively and quick?
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his courses 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 leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to
the sky,
So up to the housetop the courses 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 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 toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddlar 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 hada broad face and a round little belly
They 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 ;
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,'
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good
Night."
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`Christmas Bells'
By Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow
I heard the bells on Christmas Day their old,
familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat.
Of peace on earth., goad -will to men !
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good -will to men!
Till, ringing, swinging on its ways,
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good -will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South
And with the sound •
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good -will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth -stones of a continent
And made forlorn
The household born
Of peace on earth, good -will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong„
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good -will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,.
"God is not dead; nor doth He sleep! .
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good -will to men ! "