'Twas the night before Christmas, when all ‘bout the farm

Not a creature was stirring, in the house or the barn

The presents were wrapped, all under the glow

Of twinkling lights and red ribbon bows

The children were quiet, not even a peep!

While visions of sugarplums danced in their sleep

And Rose in her gown and I in my socks,

Had just settled in with a ding of the clocks

When out in the field there arose such a squeal

I sprang from my bed like a coil of steel

Away to the porch I ran like a horse

Flew open the door to discover the source

The moon, like a spotlight, shone bright on the snow

And danced through the pine where cardinals sing low

When what to my sleep-weary eyes did reveal

But a pig racing past with a sleigh at its heel

With flashes of red and jingling bells

Cracks of a whip and jolly old yells

Whatever it was landed flat on our roof

With a “Ho Ho Ho” and the stamp of a hoof

I hollered to Rose, “Come quick, looky here!”

But she said, “Oh it’s Santa, he comes every year”

With no time for questions, I ran for a ladder

And hoisted it high with a chorus of clatter

Ascending each rung, my heart skipped a beat

Would this be the night that we finally meet?

So up to the housetop, I quickened my pace

With toes made of ice and sweat on my face

Once at the peak, I peered over the gutter

And all of my words came out in a stutter

For there at the chimney stood jolly St. Nick

I though to myself, “Could this all be a trick?”

But then down he went toward the lights of our tree

“It really is him!” I sang with such glee

“On Roy, On Kathie, On Rosie, On Wayne

Awake from your sleep, and move like a train!”

The kids wiped their eyes with a sigh and a yawn

But St. Nick and his sleigh were already gone

The cookies were crumbs, the chimney in rubble

“Out to the lawn!” I sang, “On the double!”

And there in the sky, silhouetted by stars

Was the sleigh headed east to countries afar

We all stood in wonder, our mouths open wide

While our poor little pigs had run off to hide

It was hours ‘til dawn, but we just couldn’t wait

So into the house we scurried post haste

And under the twinkling glow of the pine

Was a single small box and a bow of red twine

“Well, go ahead Penny,” Rose cooed with a grin

Her eyes basked in lamplight and love of her kin

And inside the box was a cold copper cent

Etched 1937, “My how the years went!”

Alive in my palm, I clenched my right fist

To keep it secure and thoughtfully wish

For kindness and health and goodwill to flow

From our farm to the city to the valley below

For days to be merry, magical, and bright—

A happy Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!