The quilts I’m making for the grandkids are almost finished. I’m just sitting here at the computer as my printer slaves away printing the final pictures on fabric for the Darth Vader quilt. Things look pretty good so far. Thanks to everyone who came by and cheered me on. While printing best photo quality takes a long time, and I just sit here and wait, rather than twiddle my thumbs, I just couldn’t resist trying my hand at one final Christmas gift exchange story, even though it’s probably too late to use for any parties this year. Please forgive me, but I’m–as they say–on a roll! So if it’s too late to be of any use this year, remember it’ll be here next year. If you need something like this, or the other two, version one and version two, and don’t feel like making up your own, all three stories will be waiting here in My Wintersong for you. My apologies to Clement C. Moore.

A RIGHT AND LEFT VISIT FROM SAINT NICHOLAS

Twas the night RIGHT before Christmas when RIGHT here in the house
Not a creature was stirring LEFT or RIGHT, not even a mouse.

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

The children were nestled snugly RIGHT there in their beds
while visions of sugarplums danced LEFT and RIGHT in their heads.

While mama in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
had settled RIGHT down for a long winter’s nap.

When RIGHT outside LEFT of the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang RIGHT up from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the RIGHT side of the window I LEFT like a flash;
tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
LEFT a luster of midday to objects RIGHT below.

When RIGHT then what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver RIGHT lively and quick;
I knew RIGHT that moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came;
and he whistled and shouted, and called them by their RIGHT names.

“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet, on Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen!

To the top RIGHT side of the porch! To the LEFT top of the wall!
Now dash away, dash away RIGHT now, dash RIGHT away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
when they meet with an obstacle, mount RIGHT on up to the sky

Up to the housetop the coursers they LEFT flew,
with a sleighful of toys and St. Nicholas, too.

And then in a twinkling, I heard RIGHT up there on the roof,
the prancing and pawing of each little RIGHT and LEFT hoof.

As I drew in my head and was turning LEFT around
down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from the RIGHT of his head to the LEFT of his foot,
and his of his clothes were LEFT tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung over the RIGHT of his back,
and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes, RIGHT and LEFT, how they twinkled! His dimples‹how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn to the LEFT like a bow,
and the beard he’d LEFT on his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held RIGHT tight in his teeth,
and the smoke encircled the left side his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a round little belly,
that shook LEFT and RIGHT when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.

He was RIGHT chubby and plump, a RIGHT jolly old elf,
and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself.

A wink of his LEFT eye and a LEFT twist of his head,
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went RIGHT to work,
and filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk

And laying his finger to the LEFT side of his nose,
and giving a nod, he LEFT as up the chimney he rose.

He sprang RIGHT to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
and quickly they LEFT like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, as he LEFT the yard and was out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!”