‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore!
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all
through the house
Not a creature was stirring, save one tubby
mouse.
The stockings were hung by each teddy bear,
In hopes that kind Santa soon would be there.
The teddies were nestled all snug in their
beds
While visions of honey pots danced in their
heads.
Except one cheeky bear, too excited to sleep
Who pulled back the covers, determined to
peep.
When out on the roof there arose such a
clatter,
The bear was too scared to see what was the
matter.
The tubby mouse scampered to bear like a flash
And both of them fell on the floor with a
crash.
Cheeky and Mouse were trembling and quaking.
They rushed to the window, their paws were all
shaking.
They were filled full of fears and terrors and
dreads
Till they saw some strange creatures with
things on their heads!
The creatures pulled Santa along on a sled
The pair knew it was Santa - he was dressed
all in red.
They listened as Santa and the strange
creatures came.
Heard him whistle and shout and call them by
name.
'Now Nelly! Now Bunny!
Now Dolly and Doggy!
On Lumpy! On, Gertie!
On, Neddy and Froggy!
To the top of the porch!
To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!'
All of the teddies were sleeping in bed,
So only the mouse and the green cheeky ted
Saw the strange creatures as higher they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys and Santa Claus
too.
And then in a twinkling they heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As the mouse and the cheeky bear quickly
turned round
Down the chimney came Santa with a leap and 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,
Goodies and honey pots spilled from his sack.
His eyes how they twinkled! His laughter, how
merry!
His cheeks were all fluffy, his nose like a
berry!
His neatly-sewn mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the
snow.
'That's a bear!' hissed the mouse, 'It's not
Santa Claus.'
Cheeky giggled, then whispered, 'It's Santa
Paws!
He's been scoffing the mince pies, look at his
tummy.
The reason he's fat is 'cos mince pies are
yummy!'
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old
bear,
And they laughed when they saw him, the saucy
young pair.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave them to know they had nothing to
dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his
work,
He filled all the stockings, then turned with
a jerk.
And laying his paw 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 they heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out
of sight,
'Beary Christmas to all, and to all a good
night!'
The bears opened their presents, then Cheeky
and Mouse
Told of the visitor who came to their house.
And the mouse confided, full of good cheer,
'I saw a Steiff button in Santa's ear.'
(Where was Rudolph, you ask, with his nose
bright and merry?
I'm sorry to tell you, but he found Santa's
sherry.)
You can listen and watch this on Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-wOkBnx71Q
You can listen and watch this on Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-wOkBnx71Q