‘Twas the night before the Stroll, when all through the Day ProgramNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;The cobwebs were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that the Great Pumpkin soon would be there;
The clients were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of glow sticks danced in their heads;
And our director in her ‘kerchief,
Had just settled down for a 5 minute nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
she sprang from her chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the window she flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
When, what to her wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature wagon, and eight tiny goblins,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
She knew in a moment it must be The Great Pumpkin.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Elizabeth! now, Carolyn! now, Maila and Missy!
On, Brook! on Sharon
! on, Holly and Jackie!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
So up to the church-top the coursers they flew,
With the wagon full of candy, and the Great Pumpkin too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little foot.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney the Great Pumpkin came with a bound.
He was dressed all in orange, from his head to his foot,
A bag of candy he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes — how they Glowed! his dimples how scary!
His cheeks were carved, his nose a little hairy!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a cauldron of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right chilly 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 goodie bags ; 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 wagon, 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 Halloween to all, and to all a ghoul-night.”
Taken from the Original, The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston
cute . . .