‘Twas the week before Christmas, when all through my home,
The twins banged the walls as the halls they did roam;
Their stockings were off and their jammies were on,
my husband and eldest for the evening were gone.
I eagerly herded the twins t’ward bed,
for visions of solitude danced in my head.
As ‘mama’ I love them, I love them I do,
but happy I am when I know the day’s through;
When far down my street there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my dreams to see what was the matter;
I flew to the window to see what could be seen.
I slid open the glass to peer thru the screen;
The perpetual rain that would not become snow,
gave a glistening shimmer to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a van with a sign that read, “Santa is near!”
And a driver that called, “Get your shoes and be quick.”
“In only a moment he’ll be here. Saint Nick!”
More rapid then eagles, down the stairs the twins came,
As I whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now Pixie! Now Pirate! Get your jackets on now!
Then get shoes on your feet and a hat on your brow!
To the front of the porch! Please quick, heed my call!
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
down in a gulley then out t’ward the sky
So dressed and then out the little ones flew.
Hours of obedience training come through.
And then in a twinkling I heard in the street,
What sounded and looked like a fireman’s fleet.
With lights all a twirl and a caroling sound,
Up the street St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot.
While his clothes were not tarnished with ashes and soot,
A bundle of candy 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 in a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
His escort, the fire truck came slowly too,
It’s red and it’s silver shining like new.
Santa was plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed in the rain, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Gave my children to know they had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to the twins,
and gave them each candy which brought out their grins;
They waved with excitement the way children can,
and of course he waved back, that very nice man.
Then he turned to the street, to his team gave a nod.
And away they all went at a very slow plod.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he walked out of sight,
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night.