Twas the Night Before Christmas…
Tigger Does Christmas…
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Martha soon would be there.
The kittens were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And Brook in her ‘kerchief, and a Tig in his 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 the kennel 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 cat-deer.
With a little woman driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment that can’t be St Nick.
More rapid than lions her rescues they came,
And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Omen! now, Samuel! now, Molly and Dizzy!
On, Beans! On, Thor!, on Hearts and Iggy!
To the top of the shed! 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 clinic-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of chew toys, and St Martha too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard more than saw
The prancing and clawing of each little paw.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Martha came with a bound.
She was dressed all in fake-fur, from her head to her foot,
And her clothes were all tarnished with cat hair and soot.
A bundle of chew toys she had flung on her back,
And she looked like a royal canin-peddler, just opening her pack.
Her eyes-how they twinkled! her dimples how merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, her nose like a cherry!
Her droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the warmth of her smile makes everyone glow.
A piece of a leash she held tight in her teeth,
And the remainder encircled her head like a wreath.
She had a kind face and a heart made of gold,
That all can see, no matter how old!
She was happy and caring, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw her, in spite of myself!
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying a finger aside of her nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney she rose!
She sprang to her sleigh, to her team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard her exclaim, ‘ere she drove out of sight,
“Get your pet spayed or neutered! And to all a good-night!”
