Lakeshore Advance, 2012-11-28, Page 9Wednesda , December 21, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 7
Community
Culture right
in your own
ick yard
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
In the spirit of shopping local don't
forget the readers and those culture
geared friends and family on your list.
Paul Ciufo's Blyth Festival hit The Kill-
ing Snow was released this month and
is available at the Village Book Store in
Bayfied. For the mystery buff check out
Exeter's Rick Hundey list of books avail-
able at http://rickhundey.fauxpop.
tv/?page_id=238
Anyone who loves the arts and appre-
ciates the history of Grand Bend's
progress James Murphy's Huron Coun-
try Playhouse A Personal Memoir is a
must buy. The books are available at the
Lakeshore Advance. For the cook on
your list has to have Schoolhouse chef
Gus Merkie's cook book available at the
restaurant or at Baillies Framing in
Grand Bend.
And even though it is the season for
giving- buy yourself a copy of these
books -they are gifts for everyone.
Everyone needs a calendar and the
annual creation froth our local artists is
a gift of art. Page upon page of original
pieces takes you from month to month.
'Ihe calendars are available at the River
art galleries or from Bailiies Framing.
Local artist note cards, prints, paintings
are the perfect gift for people who want
a little local magic.
Staying within the theme of the arts -
if your hard to buy receiver is a Corona-
tion Street fan, a group of the former
actors are coming to Grand Bend in
March to appear on the Huron Country
Playhouse stage. Call the Lakeshore
lc
lvance for ticket details.
• Thopping at home, no matter where
j,,.wcommuntty is -keeps businesses
open- and you will be surprised to find -
you can purchase something for
everyone.
Canadian
Cancer
Society
Societe
canadienne
du cancer
LET'S MAKE
CANCER HISTORY
For information about cancer,
services or to make a donation
1.888.939.3333 • www.cancer.ca
Twas the night before Christmas
History tells us that Clement Clarke Moore wrote the poem Twas the
night before Christmas also called "A Visit from St. Nicholas' in 1822. It is
now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every
Christmas Eve. The poem 'Twas the night before Christmas' has rede-
fined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of
By Clement CLadts tiara
or Henry Lkingsion
the story of "Nils the night before Christmas' St. Nicholas, the patron
saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers!
Moore, the author of the poem, was a reticent man and it is believed
that a family friend, Miss 11. Butler, sent a copy of the poem to the New
York Sentinel who published the poem. The condition of publication
was that the author of Twits the night before Christmas was to remain
anonymous.
'Tway 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 1 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 trust 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 tly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
folgt
So up to the house -top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh Mil of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
, And then, in a twinkling 1 heard on the roof
The prandng and pawing of each little hoof,
As 1 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 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;
'Ihe 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 bowlthl of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when 1 saw him, to spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know 1 had nothing to dread;
Ile spoke not 41 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;
I le sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they nil new like the down of a thistle.
But 1 heard hila exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good -night,"