Twas the Night Before Christmas (Cat Version)

''Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring except the cat chasing a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that Santa Claws would soon would be there; The kittens were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of catnip danced in their heads; And momma in her perch and I in a lap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I lept like a flash, Swatted open the shutters and bent up the sash. The moon glistening on the new-fallen snow gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my curious eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old feline driving lively and fast I knew in a moment it was Santa at last. More rapid than cats his reindeer they came, And he mrowred, and mewed, 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 lain around dry. When they meet with an obstacle, lept to the sky, So up to the house-top the reindeers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and Santa Claws too. And then, in a ear twitch, I heard on the roof The clawing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my paw, and was turning around, Down the chimney Santa Claws came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his fur was all dirty 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 whiskers how merry! His ears were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His cute little mouth was shaped like a bow, the fur on his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a feather pole he held tight in his teeth, feathers flew around his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he purred like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old cat, And I laughed when I saw him, wearing a hat; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me an idea he hadn’t been fed; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his job, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a bob, And laying his paw next to his nose, giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a hiss, And away they all flew too quickly I sensed. But I heard him meow, as he lept out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."