“Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
Sabella had hung the stockings by the chimney with care,
In hopes that the decorating would add a touch of flare.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds.
In the gorgeous bedrooms, Joanna and Company had created in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
We dreamt of stunning interiors during our 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 flew like a flash,
Tore opened the old curtains and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of gorgeous objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But window treatment delights and eight scatter cushions near,
With a touch of design, so chic and quick,
I knew in a moment we were ready for St. Nick.
A selection of craftsman, so rapid they came,
And she whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“Now, decorator, now, lampshade maker now carpet layer and sewer.
On, art on, kitchen on, bathroom and Kitson!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now decorate away! decorate away! decorate away all!”
As painters before the wild colours fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, look to the sky.
So up to the housetop the Sabella team, they flew
With the car full of fabrics, and Scatter cushions too—
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The creative touch of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Paint the chimney, Joanna shouted with a bound.
She, dressed all in decorating whites, from her head to her foot,
And her clothes were all tarnished with paint and soot.
A bundle of curtains she had flung on her back,
And she looked like a finesser just completing the latest hack.
Her eyes—how they twinkled! Her dimples, how merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, her nose could smell cherry!
Her little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the silk bedding she carried was as white as the snow.
The only thing missing was a Christmas wreath,
And the garland she dressed, encircled her head like a leaf.
She had a smiley face and a little round belly
That shook when she laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
She was stylish and neat, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw her, put up the shelf.
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,
And hung all the artwork; then turned with a jerk,
And laying her finger aside of her nose,
And giving a nod, up her feet, she rose.
She sprang up to the car, to her team whistled,
And away they all drove like the down of a thistle.
But I heard her exclaim, as she drove out of sight—
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
