The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

WHITBY FREE PRESS CHRISTMAS CAROL SECTION, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 23, 1981, PAGE 3 SILVER BELLS City sidewaiks, busy sidewaiks, Dressed ln holiday style; In the air there's a feeling of Christ- mas Children iaughing, peopie passing meeting Smiie after smile And on every street corner you hear: 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stir- ring, flot even a mouse; The stockings w"re hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled ail snug in their beds, While visions of sugar- piums danced in their heads; And Mamma in her ker- chief, and 1 in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave a lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my won- dering eyes did appear, But a miniature sieigh, and eight tiny reindeer. With a littie old driver, so lively and quick, 1 knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called themn by name. * "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the walI! Now dash away! dash away! dash away al! " e ~C) As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh fuli of toys, and St. Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, 1 heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each littie hoof. As 1 drew in rny head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed ail in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were ail tar- nished with ashes and soot; A bundie of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a ped- dier just opening his pack. His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimpies, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droli littie mouth was drawn up like a bow, Anid the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight to hîs, teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a littie round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jeliy. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myseif; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke flot a word, but went straight to his work, And fiiled ail the stock- ings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his teamn gave a whistle, And away they ail flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclairh ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to al ... and to ail a goodnight!"* Silver belis, silver belîs, lt's Christmas time ln the city. Ring-a-ling, hear them ring, Soon it will be Christmas Day. Strings of street lighrs, even stop iights, Biink a bright red and green; As the shoppers rush home with the treasures. Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch, This is Santa's big scene, And above ail this bustle you hear: Silver belîs, silver belis, it's Christmas time ln the city. Ring-a-iing, hear themn ring, Soon it wiil be Christmas Day. A \isit from St. Nicb.olas by Dr. Clement C. Moore ëý-.t.e