‘Twas the night before Christmas back home on the farm,
The cattle were chewing their cuds in the barn
The feed bags were hung by the mangers with careIn case old St. Nicholas chanced to stop there.
The heifers were nestled all snug in their stall
While visions of summertime dance ‘cross the walls.
With me in my slippers and Ma in her smock
Had just finished filling our little one’s socks
When out in the barnyard there rose such a clatter
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew in a fright
turned on the yard light and peered through the night
The moon’s mystic light on the snow-covered scene
Made the countryside look like a fog-shrouded dream
When, what sailed right under some low-hanging branches
But a miniature sleigh and eight undersized cows.
With a little old driver so lively and quick
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick
More strongly than tractors his little cows came
And he whistled and “so-bossied” and called them by name
Now Dolly! Now Debbie! Now Pammie and Flossie!
On Cora! On Countless! On Dinah and Bessie!
To the top of the barn, to the front of the stall
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!
So on past the milkhouse those tiny cows flew
With a sleigh full of gifts, and St. Nicholas too.
I saw them descend on the roof of the barn,
so I dashed from the house, eyes wide with alarm
As I fastened the door and was turning around
Down the hay chute St. Nicholas came with a bound
He was dressed in blue denim, from collar to cuff
And his clothes were all covered with hay seeds and stuff
His pockets revealed a bright handkerchief of red
And a farmer-type cap perched way back on his head.
It suddenly struck me, I think you all agree
He’s a miniature version of you or of me
He put down his bundle with lightning-like speed
And he looked like a dairyman opening some feed.
His eyes how they flashed when he opened his pack
And pulled out some gifts for the heifers out back
Some glass for the window that lets in the breeze
A coil for the pipeline so the water won’t freeze
More grain for the milk cows, some straw for their stalls
Lime for the alleys, to stop those bad falls
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
And filled all the feedbags, then turned with a jerk
And laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the hay chute he rose
I stood there a moment, my head hung in shame
I’d forgotten my cows when this Christmas time came
So I patted old Bessie as I turned out the light
Happy Christmas, you cows, and to all a good night.
Printed in United High School’s student newspaper, The Talon, some years ago; written by an unknown student
Twas the night before Christmas, I was walking my dog,
When I looked in the sky, I saw a white fog
I knew for a fact, Santa was here,
He left me some presents and I started to cheer
Abby Langmeyer, age 10
Ywas the night before Christmas, I just lost my front tooth,
When I heard old Santa out on the roof,
I wanted to eat dinner, not just be a sipper
So, I yelled, “Hey Santa! Leave me a flipper!”
Jake Langmeyer, age 6
