The Sam Before Christmas

Once upon a long-ago Christmas, my beloved Sam the Cat wore a Santa hat and allowed me to take his photograph. Once.

And so, with a grateful nod and sincerest apologies to Clement Clark Moore, here is a festive version of that most memorable, once-in-a-lifetime, Samcat Christmas moment.

A Visit from Saint Sam-the-Cat 

— or — 

The Sam Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house...

(We'll just leave out the next bit, but mention the mouse.)

                                  . . .

Down the hallway Sir Sam-the-Cat came with a bound:

He was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot,

His face and tail tarnish'd like ashes and soot;

He carried some catnip bundled up in a pack,

And he meowed as he gave it an almighty whack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! His ear tufts: how merry,

His muzzlepuffs bristled with whiskers so hairy.

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the hair on his chin was as white as the snow.

In a deftly-quick move (while avoiding his teeth),

I stuck Santa's hat on Sam's head like a wreath.

His cute little nose, and his little round belly,

Did shake when he yowl'd, like a bowl full of jelly:

He looked chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laugh'd when I saw him in spite of myself;

But a blink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon wiped off my smile and filled me with dread.

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

And claw'd off the cap; then turn'd with a jerk,

And laying his paw alongside of my nose

And giving a pat (just a warning, I s'pose),

He sprang to his feet, made a hiss like a whistle,

And flew from the room, like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he dove out of sight —

Never try that again, if you know what is right.

...And I never did. ;-)

Thanks for reading, my friends. However you celebrate the season, may your days be merry and bright!

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stillpoint is the blog of Canadian author Cheryl Cooke Harrington