The Night Before Christmas at Critter Care

Twas was the night before Christmas, and all through the Centre, all the little Critters were having yuletide jitters.

Their stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that jolly St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The Raccoons were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of grapes and cheezies danced in their heads. With Tucker in his den, dressed in his cap, he had just settled down for a long evening’s nap.

When out in the field there arose such a clatter, Tucker sprang from
his bed to see what was the matter.
And what, to his wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh
pulled by eight tiny fawns.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, Tucker knew in a moment it
must be jolly old St. Nick!

More rapid than squirrels, his fawns they came, he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.
“Now LAVERNE! Now SHIRLEY! Now MAX and EMMA! On GIDGET! On DEWDNEY! On LISA
and JULIE! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

So up to the Condominium top the fawns they flew, With the sleigh full of toys,

and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, Tucker heard on the roof, the prancing and pawing, of each little hoof.

As Tucker drew in his paw, and was scampering around, Down the chimney old St. Nicholas,

came with a bound.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And Tucker roared when he saw him,

in spite of himself.

With a wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon told Tucker he had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings with critter treats. 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 Tucker heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
“MERRY CHRISTMAS MY CRITTERS, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!”