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Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Fort
Not a creature was stirring, not even a pup,
The stockings were hung by the Annex with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their bed,
While visions of “Memories” danced in their heads,
And The Story Lover, and I in our caps,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap...
When out on the Forum 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,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen skin
Gave the lustre of mid-day to the posts below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and TwoHyperPups ,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be JeffsFort.
More rapid than William & Duke, his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Greybear! now, Drew! now GunRunner and Nicholas!
On, August! on Akeentia! on, DahMalcMan and ACFan!
To the top of the Fort! to the top of the Cafe'!
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 JeffsFort 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 JeffsFort 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 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 chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his teams 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 Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"