Cottage Grove sentinel., December 05, 2019, THURSDAY EDITION, Page 40, Image 40

The Night Before Christmas
or, “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” Henry Livingston, 1808
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through
the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,
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 fl ung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
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 fl ew like a fl ash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
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 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 reindeer,
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 bowlful of jelly.
With a little old driver, 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 called them by
name;
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;
“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 that before the wild hurricane fl y,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they fl ew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And fi lled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his fi nger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all fl ew 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!”
Cottage Grove Sentinel | Cookies & Carols 2019 | 7
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Cookies & Carols 2019
Winter Wonderland
Dick Smith, Felix Bernard 1934
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
in the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
we’re happy tonight,
walking in a winter wonderland.
Later on, we’ll conspire,
as we dream by the fi re
To face unafraid,
the plans that we’ve made,
walking in a winter wonderland.
Gone away is the bluebird,
here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
as we go along,
walking in a winter wonderland.
In the meadow we can build a snowman,
and pretend that he’s a circus clown
We’ll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
until the other kids knock him down.
In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He’ll say: Are you married?
we’ll say: No man,
But you can do the job
when you’re in town.
When it snows, ain’t it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We’ll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
walking in a winter wonderland.
Walking in a winter wonderland,
walking in a winter wonderland.
Here Comes Santa Claus
Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman (c) 1947
Here comes Santa Claus!
Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
are pulling on the reins.
Bells are ringing, children singing;
All is merry and bright.
Hang your stockings and say your prayers,
‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.
8 | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Cookies & Carols 2019
Here comes Santa Claus!
Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
He’s got a bag that is fi lled with toys
for the boys and girls again.
Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle,
What a beautiful sight.
Jump in bed, cover up your head,
‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight