THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS(A VISIT FROM ST.
NICHOLAS)by Clement Clarke Moore
'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;
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. 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, Tore open the
shutters and threw up the sash. 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,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; "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer
and Vixen! On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and
Blitzen! 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 fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
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.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 flung on his back,And
he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
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 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.
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;He spoke
not a word, but went straight to his work, And
filled all the stockings; 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 sleigh, 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 Christmas to all, and to all a
good-night."

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2003 TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS
CLUB AND TO ALL FANS OF THE AVP AND VOLLEYBALL FANS
IN GENERAL EVERYWHERE AND THE HAPPIEST OF NEW
YEARS 2004!!

UNCLE NICHOLAS