Editor’s note:
This holiday favorite is back by popular demand;
i.e., one person asked for it.
The Night Before Christmas
by Michel Robertson
(with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore)
鈥楾was the night before Christmas in our little town.
The sheriff was making his Christmas Eve rounds.
The streets were deserted, the tourists were home.
The shops were all empty. He was quite alone.
The Vet鈥檙ans museum on twenty-one Main
Was closed up and locked 鈥 or so someone claimed.
When all of a sudden a shrill filled the air.
The museum鈥檚 alarm woke the town with a BLARE.
The Mayor arrived in response to the clatter.
Policemen rushed in, yelling 鈥淲hat is the matter?鈥
The Sheriff responded, 鈥淲e have an intruder!
He鈥檚 in the big room. He might be a looter!鈥
They crept down the hallway, their guns at the ready.
鈥淏e careful,鈥 the chief warned. 鈥淣ow steady, boys, steady.鈥
As they rounded the corner, their backs to the wall,
They saw that it wasn鈥檛 a thief 鈥 not at all!
A jolly old fat man in red was asleep —
He was taking a nap in the old Willys Jeep.
He awoke with a start and said, 鈥淏oys hold your fire!
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long night, and Rudolph is tired.
鈥淭he reindeer are sleeping outside on the lawn.
鈥淚f I borrow this Jeep, I鈥檒l be back before dawn.鈥
So he loaded the Willys with gifts from the sleigh,
Shouting 鈥淗O HO HO HO,鈥 he was up and away!
And we heard him exclaim as he roared out of sight,
鈥淭hanks for your service and to all a good night!鈥
