'Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the house
Creatures were stirring, except for the cats on their evening carouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that by Christmas they would still be there;
Grandson & family all nestled in beds,
While family cats schemed to run over their heads;
And Nana in her jammies, and me in my sleeper,
Had just settled down hoping the cats would sleep and not play the creeper,
When out on the lawn there arose such a howl,
I sprang from the floor mat to see what was about.
Away to the window I limped all in a fog,
Tore open the shutters and to see the neighbor's dog.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen decorations (sob)
Strewn about lights gave the lustre of mid-day to objects near,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a dog catcher's truck, the kitty cats laughed and said, "Good Luck!"
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
The doggie knew in a moment it must be the most feared catcher, St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers he came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Doggie! now, Kitties! One, Two and Three!
Oh how will I get them out of that tree!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Net swinging wildly to catch them all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, the cats sprang very wry,
So down from the house-top the dog catcher fell,
The master felt sorry and fed them all well
Cat tuna, dog bones, cookies for catcher.
And then, in a twinkling, we heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each reindeer hoof.
As we drew in our heads, and turned around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, (why, he is a CAT!) from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his whiskers how merry!
His cheeks were like cotton balls, his nose like a pink berry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the fangs that hung out were as white as the snow;
The stump of a bat he held tight in his teeth,
And the soot encircled his head like a wreath;
He had green eyes and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old Cat,
And I was amazed when I saw him, spitting like that.
A wink of his eye and a flash of his paw led,
Me to think I could have something to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his claw aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney, with a spring, he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a histle,
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-night."
