Christmas

Pippi, Rowena and Ron are very excited because it is Christmas Eve. 

Pippi tells Ron that it is time to go to bed.  Rowena is making a snack for Santa.  She leaves it on the hearth by the fire so that he will see it when he comes down the chimney.

All the children are snug in their beds.  Rowena and Pippi have fallen asleep cuddling their teddy bears.  But not everyone is asleep!  Ron and Squirrel are now counting sheep.  It is difficult to fall asleep, they are much too excited.

The lounge is quiet and tidy ready for Christmas Day.  With a faint tinkling of sleigh bells outside Santa arrives carrying a bag of presents.

"Oh what thoughtful children" he says as he settles down in the armchair to enjoy his snack.  He has such a busy night ahead of him.  He quickly starts filling the stockings that have been hung from the mantel piece.

When he has finished he silently leaves them at the foot of the children's beds.  Then, in a twinkling, he is off to the next house.  Of course, Ron is the first to wake up at 5:00 in the morning.  He can't wait to see if Santa has been.  He finds his stocking.

He has such lovely presents.  Santa must have received his letter because the penknife and compass are there.  He really wanted those.  Squirrel isn't too sure about the tiger.  Having looked at all the toys in his stocking he goes downstairs and finds one of his presents under the tree.  "Really Ron", Pippi says, "you should be dressed by now".

"Look what Auntie Flo got me... isn't she pretty?" Rowena says.  "Here is one of your presents Pippi" says Ron as he passes it to her.

Pippi sits down near the Christmas tree and they start opening their presents.  "Auntie Flo got me a red haired doll, Rowena, isn't she just beautiful?"

"Look at this she says" as she holds up a string puppet.  The kittens are playing in the discarded wrapping paper when squeals of delight fill the room as Ron, hardly able to breathe, opens his new laptop computer.  "Mum and dad got me the computer I wanted and there are a couple of games". 

Pippi and Rowena quickly open their presents from mum and dad.  "Our own instruments" Rowena whispers.  "What shall we play?"  "I know 'Away in the Manger'" Pippi tells her as she starts to tune her violin.

Rowena opens her music book at Away in the Manger and props it up against her pile of presents on the table.  "Thank you mum" they say, as she collects up the torn wrapping paper and goes into the kitchen to baste the turkey.  "What did Santa leave you in your stockings?"  mum calls from the kitchen.

"Isn't Christmas fun" Rowena says to Pippi as they settle down for a game of chess before dinner.  Ron is lost in a world of riding dragons and saving the world, if he can just get to the next level!

I wish all the visitors to Sasha doll style a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

The inspiration for my Sasha Christmas story came from the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' poem by Clement Clarke Moore 1779-1863

'Twas the Night before Christmas'  

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 our brains 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 lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny 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, on Donner 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 head, 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!"