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'Twas The Night Before X-mas, Dalmatian Version

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'Twas the night before X-mas
And all through the crates
Not a Dalmatian was stirring
Not even for bait.
The puppies were nestled
All snug in their beds
While visions of biscuits
Danced in their heads
The stockings were hung
By the fireplace of stone
In hopes they'd be filled
With rawhide and bones
Ma in her nightshirt
And I in my robe
Had just settled down
By the ol' woodstove
When out on the lawn
There arose such a commotion
I sprang from my chair
To see why the dogs weren't in motion
Away to the window
I ran like a deer
Tore open the shade
To see who was here
The moon on the top
Of the new fallen snow
Gave the luster of doghair
To the ground below.
And what do I see
To my started exclamation
But a miniature sleigh
And eight spotted dalmatians.
With a little 'ole handler
So poised and so sure
I knew in a moment
'Twould not be a bore
More rapid than beagles
His charges they came
And he whistled and shouted
And called them by name
Now Austin, now Blackjack
Now Chips and Josh P
On Morris and Fancy
On Lace and Indy
To the top of the doghouse
To the top of the wall
Now dash away, dash away
Dash away all
As the dry leaves that before
A running Dalmatian fly
Meet with an obstacle
Mount to the sky
So up to the housetop
The coursers they flew
With a sleigh full of choo-hooves
And St, Nicholas too.
And then in an instant
I heard on the roof
The scratching and digging
Of each spotted foot.
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
But had not a care
For his clothes were all covered
With black and white hair.
A bundle of toys
He had flung on his back
And he looked like a groomer
Just opening his pack.
His eyes how they twinkled
His dimples how merry
His cheeks were like roses
His nose like a cherry,
His small little mouth
Smile to greet all his pals
And the beard on his chin
Was as white as the dals.
He had a broad little face
And a round little tummy
That wriggled when he laughed
Like the tail of a puppy.
He was chubby and plump
A right jolly old boy
The dogs barked when they saw him
Their eyes on the toys.
A wink of his eye
And a twist of his head
Soon told the dogs
They 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 with a pat to each
Spotted dog's nose
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.
And I heard him exclaim
As he drove out of sight
"Happy showing to all
And to all a good night."