'Twas the night before Christmas...

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Cove

Not a creature was stirring, not even the dog;



The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that they soon would be dry;



Wade and Lefty were nestled all snug in their trailers,

While visions of the secret recipe danced in their heads;

And momma in her bed, and I in my cot,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the hard there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the cot to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the curtains and threw up the sash.

The moon on the waters of the new-fallen tide

Gave the look of mid-day so objects can’t hide,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,



But a tow boat and crew,

With a little old captain, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be a trick.

More rapid than eagles his tows they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Drifter! now, Dockter! now, Playpen and Vitamin Sea!

On, Clueless! on Chummer! on, Deeper in Debt and Barely Awake!

To the top of the Cove! to the edge of the seawall!

Now cast away! cast away! cast away all!"

As small boats  that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with a wave,  they mount to the top,

So up to the top deck the crewmen they flew,

With the stern full of fenders, and the old captain too.



And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the dock

The stumbling and bumbling of each little Croc.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down by the shed the captain came with a bound.

He was dressed all in yellow, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all stained  with varnish and soot;

A grimy bundle empty of gear he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how bloodshot! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And a glimpse of the flask he tried not to show;

The stump of a cigar 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 hung over his belt like a bowlful of jelly.

He was grimy and plump, a right rough old salt,

And I cringed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A blink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to wonder what I had to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And emptied all the bait barrels and lockers; then turned with a jerk,

And laying both fingers closing his nose,

And giving a tremor, up the dock he goes;

He sprang to his boat, to his crew gave a yell,

And away they all flew like a bat out of hell.



But I heard him exclaim, ere he hove out of sight,

"They’re your boats to watch now and thanks for the loot,

so to all a good night and a good riddance."