Twas the day after christmas poem

Story Reads: 34,420

‘Twas the night after Christmas, and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring—except for a mouse.
The stockings were flung in haste over the chair,
For hopes of St. Nicholas were no longer there.
The children were restlessly tossing in bed,
For the pie and the candy were heavy as lead;
While mamma in her kerchief, and I in my gown,
Had just then decided we would not lie down,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I went with a dash,
Flung open the shutter, and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave the lustre of noon-day to objects below.

When what to my long anxious eyes should appear
But a horse and a sleigh, both old-fashioned and queer;
With a little old driver, so solemn and slow,
I knew at a glance it must be Dr Brough.
I drew in my head, and was turning around,
When up came the Doctor, with scarcely a sound,
He wore a thick overcoat, made long ago,
And the beard on his chin was white with the snow.
He spoke a few words, and went straight to his work;
He felt all the pulses,—then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,
With a nod of his head to the chimney he goes:—
“A spoonful of oil, if you have it handy;
No nuts and no raisins, no pies and no candy.
These tender young stomachs cannot well digest
All the sweets that they get; toys and books are the best.
But I know my advice will not find many friends,
For the custom of Christmas the other way tends.
The fathers and mothers, and Santa Claus, too,
Are exceedingly blind. Well, a good-night to you!”
And I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight:
“These feastings and candies make Doctors’ bills right!“

Christmas poem for kids written by a vintage author.

Illustration by Pixabay

Let’s Chat About The Poem ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Conversation

Why does the doctor come to visit the day after Christmas in this poem?
Have you ever eaten too much at Christmas? What happened?

This unsigned and undated poem is from a newspaper clipping found in the Graphic Arts Department of the American Antiquarian Society.

The Night After Christmas

'Twas the night after Christmas, when all through the house
Every soul was in bed, and as still as a mouse;
Those stockings, so lately St. Nicholas's care;
Were emptied of all that was eatable there;
The darlings had duly been tucked in their beds,
With very dull stomachs and pain in their heads;
I was dozing away in my new cotton cap,
And Fancy was rather far gone in a nap,
When out in the nursery arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my sleep, crying "What is the matter?"

I flew to each bedside, still half in a 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;
But what to the fond father's eyes should appear
But the little pale face of each little sick dear,
For each pet had crammed itself full as a tick,
And I 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 stuffing, plum pudding of course,
And custards and crullers and cranberry sauce,
Before outraged nature all went to the wall;
Yes- lolypops, flapdoodle, dinner and all;
Like pellets that urchins from pop-guns let fly,
Went figs, nuts and raisins, jam, jelly and pie,
Till each error of diet was brought to my view-
To the shame of mamma, and of Santa Claus too.

I turned from the sight, to my bed room stepped back,
And brought out a phial marked "Pulv. Ipecac,"
When my Nancy exclaimed, for their sufferings shocked her,
"Don't you think you had better, love, run for the doctor?"
I ran- and was scarcely back under my roof,
When I heard the sharp clatter of old Jalap's hoof;
I might say that I had hardly turned myself around,
When the doctor came into the room with a bound.

He was covered with mud from his head to his foot,
And the suit he had on was his very worst suit;
He had hardly had time to put that on his back,
And he looked like a Falstaff half muddled 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 a fortnight or so,
And his short chin wasn't as white as the snow;
But inspecting their tongues in spite of their teeth,
And drawing his watch from his waistcoat beneath,
He felt of each pulse, saying "Each little belly
Must get rid" - here they laughed - "of the rest of that jelly."

I gazed on each chubby, plump, sick little elf,
And groaned when he said so in spite of myself;
But a wink of his eye when he physicked our Fred,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He didn't prescribe, but went straightway to work
And dosed all the rest; - gave his trousers a jerk,
And added directions while blowing his nose,
He buttoned his coat, from his chair he arose,
Then jumped in his gig, gave old Jalap a whistle,
And Jalap jumped off as if pricked by a thistle;
But the doctor exclaimed, ere he drove out of sight.
"They'll be well by to-morrow; good night Jones, good night."

Twas the day after christmas poem

Christmas poem for kids written by a vintage author.

Let’s Chat About The Poem ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Related Posts

Advertising

LATEST NEWS

How do you put music to a picture

If wisdom tooth hurts is it infected

How to pack gauze for wisdom teeth

How does amazon 6 month financing work

Does iphone 11 pro have sim card

Lilo and stitch the series disney plus

Entering the us from canada by air

How can i replace my social security card

How to delete your account on nintendo switch

Blue bell dutch chocolate ice cream ingredients

Advertising

Populer

Advertising

About

Legal

Help

Social