Holiday Poems

 T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was sturring, not even a mouse. 

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds with no thought of the dog filling their head, and mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, knew he was cold, but didn't care about that

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 flew like a flash, figuring the dog was free of his chain and into the trash

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the luster of mid-day to the objects below

When what to my wondering eyes should appear but Santa Claus- with his eyes full of tears

Santa unchained the dog, once so lively and quick

Last year's Christmas present,now painfully thin and sick

More rapid than eagles he called the dog's name,

And the dog ran to him despite all his pain

"Now Dasher! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN

On, COMET! On CUPID!, on, DONNER and BLITZEN

To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!

Let's find this dog a home where he will be loved by all.

I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year, for Santa Claus had made one thing quite clear

The gift of a dog is not just for the season, we had gotten the pup for all the wrong reasons.

In our haste to think of a gift for the kids there was one important thing that was missed.

A dog should be family, and cared for the same.

You don't give a gift, then put it o n a chain.

And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight, "You weren't giving a gift! You were giving a life!"