The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-12-22, Page 3PAGE 2B--GODERICH SIGNALSTAR, WEDNESDAY', DECEMBER 2 , 1937
141 .W 2241- 2
Twas
he Night before Chiistmas
BY CLEMENT C. MOORE
was 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
there beds;
While visions of sugarplums danced
through their heads;
And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in
my cap,
f-Iad 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 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 mid-day 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 eagle his coursers
they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call-
ed them by name:
'PT
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! now,
Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and
Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of
the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash
away, all!"
As the leaves that before the wild hur-
ricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle,
mount to the sky,
So up to the housetop the coursers they
flew,
With the cleieh 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 open-
ing 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 ,die snow;
The Staff at W.G. Thompson & Sons Ltd.
extend a special Thank -you
to all our good friends and patrons
for your confidence, loyalty . and support...
a very Merry Christmas to all and all the best in '88!
BEAN`S.
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 round little
belly
That 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,
"Happy Christmas to all and to all a
Good Night!"
Christmas Sled
0 h, for the winters that used to
be!
The winters that only a boy
may see!
Rich with the snowflakes' rush and swirl,
Keen as a diamond, pure as a pearl,
Brimming with healthful, rollicking
fun,
Sweet with their rest when the play
was done,
With kindly revels each day decreed,
And a Christmas sled for the royal
steed.
Down from the crest with shrill
hurray!
Clear the track, there! Out of the way!
Scarcely touching the path beneath,
Scarce admitting of breath to breathe,
Dashing along, with leap and swerve,
Over the crossing, round the curve.
Talk of your flying machines! Instead,
Give me the swoop of that Christmas
sled.
What is Christmas
BY CAROL B. HAYMAN
Christmas is music ... the music
of carols ringing out on the still
night air, the organ, the chimes
and the voices of a choir singing
"Silent Night, Holy Night."
Christmas is lights ... the candles in
our windows, the lighted trees, the eyes
of children, and the starlight on a cold
December night.
Christmas is welcome ... the wreath on
the door, the happiness to answer the
doorbell, the warmth of hearts overflow-
ing, "Come in, come in and Merry
Christmas."
Christmas is laughter ... the laughter
that starts in your toes and bubbles up,
the smiles on faces everywhere, the feel-
ing of closeness, of a wonderful secret
shared with all mankind.
Christmas is fragrance ... the pine and
spruce smell of Christmas trees, the
sugary good smell of cookies baking, the
spice and raisin smell of fruitcake, the
smell of furniture polish, and the cold,
crisp smell of outdoors.
Christmasis giving ... the present
made by hand, the card picked especially
for a certain person, the gift marked
"from me to you, with love."
Merry
Christmas
Seasons
ever -change,
but the good
old-fashioned spirit
of Christmas lives
on forever, Tong
with hopes for
peace and love
throughout
the world.
Thankyou for your patronage
from..
Sennett St: Goderich
524®2645