HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Good Morning to you,

This morning, I was busy cooking, but there was no music playing, so I decided to turn on the radio to listen to BBC Newcastle.  I'm so glad I did, because Alfie and Charlie were speaking to a very special person, Father Christmas. Children were invited to speak to Father Christmas, before he started his long journey tonight. I have to tell you, the conversations with the children were wonderful to listen to.  

So I started thinking about our daughters and the special rituals we enjoyed on Christmas Eve. One I vividly remember, was when the girls were ready for bed, the one thing, which helped them to settle, was the reading of a Christmas story and the one they loved the best, was the poem, 'Twas the Night before Christmas' by Clement Clarke Moore

So I thought it would be lovely to share with you this lovely Christmas poem.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Twas 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 their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains 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 the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With  a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I 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, 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 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 of 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 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 whilstle,

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!"

Happy Christmas to you,

I look forward to catching up with you

 in the New Year.