The Blog Before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The cabinets were hung in the kitchen with care
In hopes that their hardware picks soon would be there.
The homeowners nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of remodels danced in their heads.
Then down in the house, there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.
To the top of the stairs, they flew and they ran—
And saw, stunned and startled, a jolly old man
Clad all in red with a sack full of knobs
Provided for everyone’s hardware jobs!

He reached in the sack and shook it about
Then reached down inside and took hardware out
The pulls and the latches gleamed silver and gold
With dark-colored hinges like antique of old.
Dim light from the window made them sparkle like day,
And the man chuckled loudly as I heard him say:
“Pick Copper! Pick Iron! Pick Black or Venetian!
The hardware you need for your bath and your kitchen!”

He strolled through the house, seeking cupboard and shelf,
Their hardware improved by the jovial elf.
Cried the man of the house, “Sir, is this a joke?—
Why did you adorn all our cabinets of oak
With all of these dazzling hardware delights?”
But St. Nick just winked as he turned to the right
And dashed to the bath, where he drew from his pack,
Crystal knobs with glittering stems at the back.
Attached to the vanity, they sparkled and shone,
With light glist’ning this way and that from the stones.

The owners—they saw all the changes he made;
Fine hardware on all of their cabinets displayed.
They asked him, “O Santa, please, where did you get
All this hardware you’ve placed upon our cabinets?”
St. Nick laughed aloud when he heard their request:
“Why, from Cliffside! For you, none but the best!”

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.
And they heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight:
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Happy Holidays to you and yours from Cliffside Industries!
Adapted from “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore