The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-02-08
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The Night after Christmas.

The following parody upon Clement Moore's
unequalled "Night before Christmas was sent
us by a friend for publication last year. 1t
did not reach us however, until January, and
we reserved it for publication to-day.-N. Y.
Courier.
Twas the night after Christmas, when all
through the house,
Every soul was abed, and still as a mouse
Those stockings so late st. Nicholas care,
Were emptied of all that was eatable there.
The darlings had duly been tucked in their
beds
was DOING away in my new cotton cap,
And Nancy was rather far gone in nap
When out in the Nurs'ry arose such clatter,
Isprang from my sleep-crying-"W is the
matterf"
flew to each bedside-still half in doze,
Tore open the curtains and threw off the
clothes,
While the light of the taper served clearly to
show
The piteous plight of those objects below,
For what to the fond fathers eyes should ap-
q pear,
But the little pale face of each sick little DEAR
For each pet that had crammed itself full as a
tick,
knew in a moment now felt like old Nick.
Their pulses were rapid, their breathings the
same,
What their stomachs rejected I'll mention by
name
Now turkey, now stufing, plum pudding, of
g course,
And oustards, and crullers, and cranberry sauce
Before outraged nature, all went to the WALL
Yes--lollypors, fapdoddle, dinner and all,
Like pellets, which urchins from pop guns let
L1 fly,
Went figs, nuts and raisins, jam, jelly and pie,
IT'LL each error of diet was brought to my view,
To the shame of mamma and of Santa Claus,
turned from the sight, to my bedroom step
ped back,
And brought out vial marked Puly, Ipecac.'-
When my Nancy exclaimed-for their suffer,
ings shocked her.
aDon't you think you had better, love, run for
the doctor?'
Iran-and was scarcely back under my roof,
When heard the sharp clatter of old Jalap's
1might say that hardly had turned myself
round,
When the doctor came into the room with a
9 bound,
He was covered with mud from his head to his
M foot.
And the suit he had on was his very worst
suit;
He had hardly had time to put that on his
JG back,
And he looked like Falstaf half fuddled with
sack.
His eyes how they twinkled! Had the Doctor
got merry
His cheeks looked like Port, and his breath
smelt of Sherry.
He hadn't been shaved for fortnight or so,
And the beard on his chin wasn't white as thu
But inspecting their tongues, in despite o
their teeth,
And drawing his watch from his waistcoat be
ci Meath
He felt of each pulse, saying-"Each littl
.a belly
Must get ridn-here he laughed--"of the res
of that jelly"
Il gazed on each chubby. plump sick little eli
And groaned when he said so-in spite of my
at self.
But wink of his eye when he physicked ou
Fred,
Soon gave me to know had nothing to dread
He didn't prescribe, but went straightway t
work,
And dosed all the reSt---gave his trowsers
jerk,
And adding directions while blowing his nos'
He buttoned his coat---from his chair he aros
Then jumped in his gig gave old Jalap
-asr whistle,
And Jalap dashed off as if pricked by thistl
But the dc octor exclaimed, ere he drove out o
-nsa sight,
"They'H be well by to-morrow---good nigh
Jones, good night"