Page 25 - 200712 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - December 2007

25 was The Night Before Christmas T Twas The Night Before Christmas 25 was the Night before T Twas the Night before below. dread. When, what to my wondering eyes Christmas Poem should appear, He spoke not a word, but went straight to Christmas Poem But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny his work, reindeer. And filled all the stockings, then turned T Twas the night before with a jerk. was the night before Christmas Poem also called “A Christmas Poem also called “A quick, With a little old driver, so lively and And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he V Visit from St. Nicholas" I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. rose! isit from St. Nicholas" More rapid than eagles his coursers they Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) came, He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave wrote the poem Twas the night before And he whistled, and shouted, and a whistle, Christmas also called “A Visit from St. called them by name! And away they all flew like the down of Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition in a thistle. many American families to read the poem every "Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove Christmas Eve. The poem Twas the night before Prancer and Vixen! out of sight, Christmas has redefined our image of Christmas On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the and Blitzen! good-night!" [] story of Twas the night before Christmas St. To the top of the porch! to the top of the MERRY CHRISTMAS Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never wall! MERRY CHRISTMAS been associated with a sleigh or reindeers! The Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away FROM CANADA! FROM CANADA! author of the poem Twas the night before all!" Christmas was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Butler, sent a copy As dry leaves that before the wild of the poem to the New York Sentinel who hurricane fly, published the poem. The condition of When they meet with an obstacle, mount publication was that the author of Twas the to the sky. night before Christmas was to remain So up to the house-top the coursers they anonymous. The first publication date was 23rd flew, December 1823 and it was an immediate With the sleigh full of Toys, and St success. It was not until 1844 that Clement Nicholas too. Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the Clement Clarke Moore came from a prominent roof family and his father Benjamin Moore was the The prancing and pawing of each little Bishop of New York who was famous for hoof. officiating at the inauguration of George As I drew in my head, and was turning Washington. The tradition of reading Twas the around, night before Christmas poem on Christmas Eve Down the chimney St Nicholas came is now a Worldwide institution. with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head was the Night before T Twas the Night before to his foot, Christmas Poem And his clothes were all tarnished with Christmas Poem In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada ashes and soot. In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Twas the night before Christmas, when A bundle of Toys he had flung on his People Listen To People Listen To all through the house back, The ‘X’ Zone Radio Show The ‘X’ Zone Radio Show Not a creature was stirring, not even a And he looked like a peddler, just with mouse. opening his pack. with Rob McConnell The stockings were hung by the Rob McConnell chimney with care, His eyes-how they twinkled! his on on In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be dimples how merry! AM 580 CFRA there. His cheeks were like roses, his nose like AM 580 CFRA a cherry! The children were nestled all snug in His droll little mouth was drawn up like their beds, a bow, While visions of sugar-plums danced in And the beard of his chin was as white their heads. as the snow. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, The stump of a pipe he held tight in his Had just settled our brains for a long teeth, winter’s nap. And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. When out on the lawn there arose such a He had a broad face and a little round clatter, belly, I sprang from the bed to see what was That shook when he laughed, like a the matter. bowlful of jelly! Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the He was chubby and plump, a right jolly sash. old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite The moon on the breast of the new- of myself! fallen snow A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects Soon gave me to know I had nothing to