Furwaggle Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Christmas

The air is getting colder and the leaves are falling off the trees. It's a sure sign that winter is coming to the rest of the world. But it is always warm here in this fictitious dreamland, called, Furwaggle.
Today we find Wiggles and Slithering Sam chewing the fat over how bad it will be if the weather turns chilly. “Whenever it gets cold my beak locks up and I can’t talk, let alone eat. I just wna run away and hide from it all.” Remarks Wiggles. “I know what you mean”, replies Sam. “I'm speechless and can’t even hiss whenever the temperature drops below a normal slithering point”. At that point Fluffy walked up and said, “I'm not sure what's going on, but, I would like to join in on some important talk”. With sarcasm, Sam asked, “why, are you bilingual"? With confidence, Fluffy looks up at him and says, "Meow!" With a chuckle, Wiggles said to Fluffy, “we are discussing how good it is to have nice warm weather and what happens when it get cold in winter”.
“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but there is one good thing about winter”, said Fluffy. “Yea, and just what would that be” asked Sam? With a twinkle in his eye Fluffy said, “Well, Christmas of course”. With a shock both Sam and Wiggles said together, “Of course”. Then Fluffy continued with, “and the best part is when Santa comes with goodies for everyone”. Just then, Zorba walks up and asks, “for everyone”? With a surprise Fluffy said, “sure, why not”? Then Zorba explained, “Santa Claus listens all year to hear who has been naughty or nice, and you can guess who gets the goodies”. “Oh”, said Fluffy with a sad look. “I think I’m in trouble”. “Oh, Fluffy don’t worry”, said Wiggles. “You’re not naughty, youthfully naive maybe, but not naughty”. “You guys are confusing me. I don’t know much about Christmas, but is Santa Claus and Santa the same guy that is giving out all these Christmas presents”, asked Sam? “Sure”, said Zorba. “He is called many names besides Santa Claus and Santa, such as, Saint Nick, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, and possible a few more depending where you come from or live”. Tell me more about this Santa guy that gives out gifts on Christmas”, asked Sam. It was Wiggles turn to answer, “Santa lives at the North Pole, where his Christmas-gift workshop is also located”. Then Zorba interrupts with, “Santa Claus has a white beard, and puts on his red jacket and pompom-topped cap, goes out on the night before Christmas in his sleigh, pulled by eight reindeer, and climbs down chimneys to leave his gifts to those who have been nice”, and for Fluffys' benefit he added, “or naïve”. “Well, if you’re so smart, can you name all of Santa’s reindeer”, ask Wiggles? “Sure can”, replied Zorba. “The original eight reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. And if it is a snowy over-cast, zero visibility night, then Rudolph is added because he is a red-nosed reindeer that can light up the path for the rest”. With admiration Wiggles said to Zorba, “you sure do know your reindeer stuff, I’m impressed”.
“Well, if you really want to know about Santa and the night before Christmas, give a listen to this”, came a voice down at Fluffys' feet. It was Charlie Book Worm. He didn’t wait for an answer but began to read from one of his ever-present books. “This is a poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas"
By Clement Clarke Moore” started Charlie.
'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!"
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."
“Wow”, exclaimed Fluffy. “I think I’m going off and start trying to be nice so that I can get some goodies come Christmas”. All the rest nodded their heads as they started off toward the barnyard.
My tiny mind wants to express to you all, “Merry Christmas”.
Continued… (maybe).
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Here is a simple little teaser for you.
Maze Puzzle