Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good light.
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house,
My brightest light told me, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
The torch that I was carrying told me that still they were there;
The batteries were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of surefires danc'd in their heads,
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our lithiums for a long winter's nap --
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 with a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.
The HID on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below;
When, what to my wondering Thor should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a Vector spotlight, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
"Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen,
"On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem;
"To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
"Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with a Streamlight, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the modders they flew,
With the sleigh full of Lamps -- and St. Nicholas 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,
Millions of candlepower came with a bound:
He was dress'd all in lights, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot;
A bundle of torches was flung on his back,
And he look'd like a peddler just opening his pack:
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples I see,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a red LED;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow.
And the Luxeon Star was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the headlamp, it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a chemical light belly
That shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly:
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laugh'd when I saw him in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a 9P toward his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
lumens fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose
And pointing a stinger, up the chimney he rose.
He sprung 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 Christmas to all, and to all a good light
Merry Christmas everyone. May your joy match your enthusiasm, and may the new year bring to you and your family peace, and good times.
Chuck