A SCRAPBOOKER'S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Twas the night before Christmas,

when all through the store
Not a cropper was stirring,

not even a mouse. 
The stockings were hung

by the fireplace with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas

soon would be there.

The croppers were nestled

all snug in their chairs,
While visions of scrapbooks

danced in their heads.
And Cat in her ‘kerchief,

and Ray in his cap,
Had just settled their brains

for a well deserved rest.

When out in the parking lot

 there arose such a clatter,
Cat sprang from her chair

 to see what was the matter.
Away to the door

she flew like a flash,
Tore open the mall doors 

and looked for the sherriff.
 
The moon on the crest

of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day

to objects below.
When, what to her wondering eyes

should appear,
But the UPS truck,

and FedEx too.

With tired drivers,

so busy with deliveries,
She knew in a moment

it must be her big order.
More rapid than eagles

his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted,

and called them by name!

"Now BoBunny! now, Authentique!

now, Echo Park  and CartaBella!
On, Graphic 45! On, Fancy Pants!

on, Teresa Collins, and Bazzill!
To the top of the rack!

to the top of the wall!
Now crop away! Crop away! 
Crop away all!"

As scrapbookers that before

the new products flock,
When they meet

with new product,

they SHOP!
So off to the tables

the croppers they flew,
With arms full of product,

they were ready to crop.

And then, in a twinkling,

Cat heard in the lot
The drivers get started

in their trucks.
As she came back in,

and was turning around,
Through the back door St Nicholas

came with a bound.

He was dressed all in paper,

from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were embellished

with ribbon and glitter.
A bundle of tools

he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler,

just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled!

his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were Petaloo roses,

his nose was a button!
His droll little mouth

was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin

was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe

he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled

his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face

and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed,

 like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump,

 a right jolly old elf,
And we all laughed when we saw him,

in spite of ourselves!
A wink of his eye and

a twist of his head,
Soon gave us to know

 We had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word,

but went straight to his work,
And filled all the totes,

 then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger

aside of his nose,
And giving a nod,

out the door he flew!

He ran to his truck,

to his friends

gave a whistle,
And away they all flew

 like the down of a thistle.
But we heard him exclaim,

 ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all,

and to all a good-night!"

The store is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so that we can all enjoy time with our families. 

We will reopen on Wednesday, December 26th at 10:00 a.m.