'Twas
the twig before Twigmas, when all through the house
Not
a creature was stirring, not even a grouse;
The
stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In
hopes that St. Twigolas soon would be there;
The
moose were nestled all snug in their beds,
While
visions of birch-bark danced in their heads;
And
mama in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had
just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When
out on the meadow there arose such a clatter,
I
sprang from the bush to see what was the matter.
Away
to the thicket I flew like a flash,
Tore
open the branches to see at last.
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 moosedeer,
With
a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I
knew in a moment it must be St. Twik.
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, Donder and Blitzen!
To
the top of the trees! to the top of the tall!
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 tree-top the coursers they flew,
With
the sleigh full of toys, and St. Twigolas too.
And
then, in a twinkling, I heard on the woof
The
prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As
I drew in my antlers, and was turning around,
Down
the alders St. Twigolas came with a bound.
He
was dressed all in fur, from his head to his sleeves,
And
his clothes were all covered with tree cones and leaves;
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 bowl full 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 alders 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, ere he drove out of sight,
HAPPY
TWIGMAS to all, and to all a good-night."
Maggie in 2012
