'Twas The Night Before Dueling
by cthia
'Twas the night before dueling and all thro' the house,
Not a creature was strirring, save Pavel the mouse,
Stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care,
But alarms and monitors and traps every where.
Young wasn't nestled all snug in his bed,
'Cause visions of Salamanders danced in his head.
Georgia in her 'kerchief, Stefan in his cap -
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
Young soiled his pants tryin' to see what's the matter.
Away to the window he flew like a flash,
Drawing the shutters, and closing the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Cast shadows of Salamanders to objects below.
It was just his old driver, so lively and quick,
He knew in a moment he was going to be sick.
When what to his frightened eyes should appear,
But Honor on HD, with her tick and a sneer.
More rapid than eagles his fears now they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"I'll Bash-her! I'll Mash-her! I'll Prance on that bitch!
On Murphy! On Angels! I'll scratch this one itch!"
To the top of the stairs! To the top of the wall!
He dashed away! dashed away! a-way from it all!
Dry heaves after the wild hurricane flew
His sickness had come, his nerves he did spew,
And then in a twinkling, he heard on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As he drew in his head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney a woodrat came with a bound:
Dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his fur was all tarnish'd with ashes and soot;
A bundle of joys was flung on its back,
And he started to run, from pillar to crack:
His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples how merry,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
Young's little mouth was drawn like a bow,
From forehead to chin - face white as the snow;
A piece of a twig it held tight in its teeth,
In the manner of an omen, in the shape of a wreath.
Young's face was sad, with a knot in his belly,
Hysterical laughter, legs shaking like jelly:
The woodrat was chubby, a right jolly old elf,
He laugh'd when he saw him in spite of himself;
A wink of one eye and a twist of its head
Gave Pavel to know he was soon to be dead.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Pillaging the kitchen, and ignoring the jerk,
Then laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang on his way, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle:
Young heard him shout, 'ere he got out of sight -
"Merry Christmas from Honor, this will be your last night!"
"But this is not Christmas! What do you know?!"
"From Honor it comes early! Ye reap what ye sow!"
.
and, Mangy Fur the Smart Alick Spacecat.
