Arizona republican., 1913-12-24

thing once happened to a man. The thing he wanted was that he might give to the world the best that he knew, something to help the store of Knowledge of the world something to make the way he had come with diff ncultN easier for those who were coming after him, something to make his name stand for what he cared most for. And he worked hard for it. and long and energetically. and he got what he wanted but with diff ference.
 His name was Clement Clarke Moore. and he was student-in- deed, q scholar, and professor of oriental languages. And he wrote a book which few men could have writ ten, q Hebrew dictionary. And it was this book which he thought would be the best of himself. that which would live on after he had died, to help the 1 world and to make it easier for some one else. But he was not only a ! schoIaP-he was very human man i who loved children and who had chil- dren of his own. He made verses for | these children. sometimes 10 amuSe them and give them little dashes of | happiness.
 one day Cor was it near evening. ] when the open fire was blazing | brighter than usual in the living room 1 because the feeling of holidays near 1 at hand was in the logsO he wrote { very special one-a Christmas poem l fuu of everything that Christmas ! poem should be full of. Here 1t is, set forth in all it's dearness, not because 1 any child in the country doesn't know il by heart, but because il is very good to see. once in a while. in an it's entirety before our very eyes, which are tired of looking at unIm- portant things:
 "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 chim | ney with care I In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in
 their beds. While visions of sugarpums danced
 through their heads; | And mamma in her 'kerchef. and
 in my cap, Had just settled our brains for long winters nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a chatter, | sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like
 flash.
 Tore open the shutters and threw mp
 the sash. The moon, on the breast of the new
 fallen snow. 4t1
 below: When what to my wondering eyes
 should appear, But q miniature sleigh and eight tiny
 reindeer,
 With 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.
 Pranccr, now, Vixen. on, Comet! on, Cupid on, Donder and Blitzen.-
 To the top Of the porch. 10 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 housetops the coursers
 they flew,
 With the sleigh full of toys, and St.
 Nicholas, too, And then in d twinkling I heard on
 the roof
 The prancing and paving of each lit
 tie hoof
 As I drew in my head. and was turn ing around
 Down the chimney St. Nicholas came
 with a bound. He was dress'd all in fur from his
 head to his feet, And his clothes were all tarnish'd 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 tHinkled! his dim
 ples how merry. His cheeks were like roses. his nose
 like q cherry. His droll little mouth was drawn up
 like q bow,
 And the beard on his chin was as
 white as the snow. The stump of d pipe he held tight
 in his teeth, And the smoke. it encircled his head
 like a wreath. He had a broad face and q little
 round belly
 That shook, when he laughed like d
 bowl full 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 twist of his head, Soon gave me to know | had nothing to dread. l He spoke not word, but went