'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DOODLE STYLE

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and Mom’s making strudel  all the creatures were stirring, to include us two doodles.  Our gifts were placed under our tree with much care,  to include our “BARK BOX” which had finally gotten here!…

Leo was nestled all snug in Dad’s bed,  while visions of sugar plums danced in his head.  And I in my chair, which is like Sister’s lap,  had just settled down for a long winter’s nap…

When out on the roof there arose such a clatter, We sprang from our sleep to see what was the matter.  Away to the window, we flew like a flash,  tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash…

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow  gave the lustre of midday to objects below,  when, what to our wondering eyes should appear,  but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,  We 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, Donner 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, we 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 “Greenies” 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 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 bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,  and we barked when we saw him, in spite of ourselves.  A wink of his eye and a twist of his head  soon gave us to know we 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!”