The boys,the birds and I wanted to wish you all a wonderful Christmas!!! I wrote this last year,not that clever,but the boys seem to like it.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a Newfie.
The stockings were hung by the crates with care,
In hopes that Saint Santa Bernard soon would be there.
The dogs were nestled all snug in their crates,
While visions of raw hide treats danced in their heads.
And mamma at her computer, with Butt at her feet,
Had just settled in to see what's on BPO.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the computer 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 the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight mighty Big Paws.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Saint Santa Bernard.
More rapid than eagles those Big Paws came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Zoey! now, Bear! now, Mr. Jiggs and Rollie too!
On, Bella! On, Cooper!, on Teddy and Lucy too!
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 Big Paws leaped,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and Saint Santa Bernard too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each Big Paw.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Saint Santa Bernard came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his collar was 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 big jaw was drawn up like a bow,
And his drool 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 bowlful 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, As they drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
