Da Nite Afore Krissmas T'was da nite afore Krissmas an' all tru da town, Dere was nudding astir, not a sight nor a soun'. Da socks was all darned an' hung up by da stove, In da hopes da ol' skipper would come in tru da cove. Da youngsters was sleepin' nice an' warm in da sack, Havin' dreams of all da stuff da ol' skipper had in 'es pack. Wit' da missus in 'er jammies an' me in me longjohns, We was all sot for a mugup wit' da kettle jus' put on. Da light in da kitchen was all dat was lit, As I buttered me lassie bread up jus' a bit. Den, b'ys oh b'ys what a racket we 'eared, Da missus jumped up in a fright, some afeared! I ran to da window an' hove up da blin', An' had a gawk out da back to make sure all was fine. I tot maybe mummers was out on da go, But dere was nar sign at all, not a print in da snow. Or maybe da crowd from da pub come home late, And tripped on da wood arse, dey'd be in some state! Da moon was some brite an' da snow all a glitter, T'was jus' like me fadder's bran' new squid jigger. Den, wadda ya t'ink come outta da nite, But eight 'ardy moose haulin' a punt, wadda sight! Wit' a ol' feller skullin' as sharp as a tack, I knowed 'e was da ol' skipper by da look of 'es pack. As quick as ya like all da mooses dey came, An' I 'eared da ol' skipper call each one by name! "Now, Rosey and Leia and Debbie and Bett, Look 'ere Judy and Myrna and Carol an' Nett! "Like I told ya afore b'ys, yer all doin' good, Now give 'er again one more time, like ya would. Jus' like da leaves in a gale when she blows, Shoots up in da air like a rocket, I s'pose." Dey let go for da sky wit' all da mooses in front, An' da ol' skipper wit' dat pack full of toys in da punt! Den quick as a wink dey was up on da roof. I could tell dey was dere by da sound of dere 'oofs. An' jus' when I turned an' was lookin' aroun', Down da stovepipe da ol' skipper come wit' a boun'. 'E was dressed in 'es oilskins from 'es 'ead to 'es toes, Covered in soot from all da chimneys, I s'pose. Wit dat big bag a toys dat 'e had on 'es back, 'E looked like a peddler jus' openin' 'es pack. 'Es eyes had a sparkle dat lit up da place, An' 'es nose like a cherry sot right in 'es face. Da gob on 'n small and hauled up like a bow, An' a big fluffy beard dat was white as da snow. 'E had a ol' pipe dat was shoved in 'es mout', An' it looked jus' like fog wit' da smoke dat come out. 'E had a roun' face an' a girt big ol' belly, Dat shook when 'e laughed like a bowlful a jelly. Sure 'e cut a fine figger, a jolly ol' soul, An I started to laugh almos' outta control. 'E said nar word but went right to da chase, Stuffin' all a da socks in one frantic pace. Presents wit' ribbons 'e put under da tree, For each a da youngsters, da missus an' me. 'E looked at me square an' gimme a wink, An' I said to meself "I must be dreamin', I t'ink!" Den layin' a finger up side of 'es nose, 'E nodded 'es 'ead an' up da stovepipe 'e rose. I 'eared da punts keel scrapin' da roof, An' figgered da mooses was soon on da 'oof. I ran tru da door an' out on da lawn To get a last look afore dey was gone. 'E jumped in da punt an' laughed right out loud, Den dey took off straight up goin' right tru da clouds. I bawled out to missus, "You can't go, I know!" As I stood dere nar froze in da cold and da snow. Den I 'eared 'in shout out as dey flid outta sight. "Merry Krissmas now b'ys, an' to all a good nite!"   Submitted By: Gary Peddle