Twas
the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not
a creature was stiring, 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,
With
no thought of the dog filling their head.
And
mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Knew
he was cold, but didn't care about that.
When
out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I
sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away
to the window I flew like a flash,
Figuring
the dog was free of his chain and into the trash."
The
moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave
the luster of mid-day to objects below,
When,
what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But
Santa Claus - with eyes full of tears.
He
unchained the dog, once so lively and quick,"
Last
year's Chrismas present, now painfully thin and sick.
More
rapid than eagles he called the dog's name
And
the dog ran to him, despite all his pain;
I
knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year,
For
Santa Claus had made one thing quite clear,
The
gift of a dog is not just for the season,
We
had gotten the pup for all the wrong reasons.
In
our haste to think of the kids a gift
There
was one important thing that we missed.
A
dog should be family, and cared for the same
You
don't give a gift, then put it on a chain.
And
I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight,
"You
weren't given a gift! You were given a life!"
author
unknown
Twas
the day before Christmas, when all through the house
The puppies are squeaking an old rubber mouse.
;
The wreath which merrily hung on the door, is scattered in pieces all over
the floor.
The stockings that hung in a neat row,
now boast a hole in each one of the toes.
The tree was subjected to bright whims,
and now, although splendid, It's missing some limbs.
I catch thee and hold thee. "Be good." I insist.
They lick me, then run off to see what they've missed.
And now as I watch them, the thought comes to me,
That theirs is the spirit that Christmas should be.
Should children and puppies yet show us the way,
And teach us the joy that should come with this day?
Could they bring the message that's written above,
And tell us that, most of all Christmas is love.
author
unknown