A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-24-02....Twas the Night Before Christmas,,,,

Billie and daisyscarlett

[daisyscarlett]

"A Visit From St. Nicholas," was published for the first time on December 23, 1823 by a New York newspaper, the Sentinel. Since then, the poem has been reprinted, translated into innumerable languages and circulated throughout the world.

Clement Clarke Moore was an author, a noted Hebrew scholar, spoke five languages, and was an early real-estate owner and developer in Manhattan. Despite his accomplishments, Clement Clarke Moore is remembered only for "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," which legend says he wrote on Christmas Eve in 1822 during a sleigh ride home from Greenwich Village after buying a turkey for his family. Some say the inspiration for Moore's pot-bellied St. Nicholas was the chubby, bewhiskered Dutchman who drove Moore to Greenwich Village to buy his holiday turkey.

Moore never copyrighted his poem, and only claimed as his own over a decade after it was first made public. Moore read the poem to his wife and six children the night he wrote it, and supposedly thought no more about it. But a family friend heard about it and submitted the poem to the Sentinel, a newspaper in upstate New York, which published it anonymously the following Christmas. Moore's poem immediately caught the attention and imagination of the state, then the nation, and then the world.

Finally, in 1844, he included it in a book of his poetry. Because of his "mere trifle," as he called it, 175 years ago Clement Clarke Moore almost single-handedly defined our now timeless image of Santa Claus.

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 luster 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!"

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner 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 a sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too.

And then in a twinkle, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, 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 the twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like a roses, his nose like a cherry. is droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on 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 bowl full 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 as he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night."

THE END

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12-23-02 Christmas Music

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
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[daisyscarlett]

[JohnHuang2]

Morning to ya, my friend, and...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!

[daisyscarlett]

[CounterCounterCulture]

Guess I better start my Christmas shopping soon. ;-)

[daisyscarlett]

As the calendar indicates, time to stop shopping, baking, decorating etc and REJOICE for Christmas is here (almost)...

[glock rocks]

time to stop shopping

for one particular gender, the 24th often marks the beginning of Christmas shopping :o)

[SheLion]

Wow! You gals are Super SHARP! What a great picture. I have saved it for my collection! Thanks, daisyscarlett!!!!! What a treasure!!!!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Daisy. Merry Christmas to all.

[Jim Robinson]

Merry Christmas everyone!

[glock rocks]

and when they saw that star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy

Merry Christmas

[Fiddlstix]

Be sure and
Click the Pics
J

Click Here for Christmas Graphics J

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody !!

Have a cup while you FReep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

Eggnog, Anyone?

[MeekOneGOP]

Merry Christmas !

Merry Christmas from
Ming n Meek !

[ST.LOUIE1]

Pics of the Finest Babes. Wow! What a great way to start my day!!

You're all most beautiful, most gracious and, well.... most everything. : )

Good morning, Ms.Daisy. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

Merry Christmas, Jim!

You're FR's Santa...thank you.

Don't get stuck in the chimney. : )

[ST.LOUIE1]

Good morning, sweet Ladies. : )

Whoever, I'm missing you....big time! : )

[.45MAN]

Thanks for a consistantly wonderful thread giving us the opertunity to see just who makes up the strength of Free Republec.

A Happy and Wonderful Christmas to All

[Iowa Granny]

Good Morning. Great opening to the thread today. An Elegant portrayal of our lovely hostesses.

Happy Holidays everyone. We're having our kids here around 2:00. The weather events the rest of the country is experiencing are missing us. Our landscape is dormant and brown. Somehow, I just can't imagine Elvis crooning, "I'll have a Brown Christmas without You".

[humblegunner]

24th often marks the beginning of Christmas shopping

That's number one on my list today...

[SpookBrat]

Good morning and Merry Christmas Eve everyone. I'll try to come in when I can. I had more to do today, than I had planned. Thank you all for being my friend and for being such great people. I'm blessed to know you all. I hear little feet running in the house, so I better go.

<--------click on the picture

I like this picture of the shepherd bowing down. I look forward to the day when I can see the Lord face to face, bow down before him and thank him for his blood. Without his birth, there would be no death and no salvation. Praise God for my full salvation. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen.