‘Twas the night before Christmas
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even my spouse. The dining room table with clutter was spread With pedigree charts, and with letters that said, "Too bad! The data for which you wrote Sank in a storm on an ill-fated boat."
Stacks of old copies of wills and such
Were proof that my ‘hobby’ had become just too much. Our daughters were nestled all snug in their beds While visions of Barbie dolls danced in their heads;
But I, at my table, was ready to drop
From work on my album, with more photos to crop. Christmas was here, and such was my lot That presents and goodies and toys I’d forgot! Had I not been busy with grandparents’ wills, I’d not have forgotten to shop for such thrills.
Though others bought gifts to bring Christmas cheer, I’d spent my time researching each birth date and year. While I was thus musing about my sad plight, A clamor outside brought me a heart-stopping fright.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
I tore open the drapes and yanked up the sash. And there to my unbelieving eyes did appear An overstuffed sleigh and some outsized reindeer!
Up to our rooftop those eight animals flew
With that sleigh full of toys and plump Santa Claus too.
A short second later I started to quake
‘Cause I knew what I heard was the tiles start to break.
I drew in my head- ouch!-it hit hard on the sash;
Then down our cold chimney fell Santa-KER-RASH! ‘Dear’ Santa had come from the roof like a wreck, Tracking soot on my carpet (I could just wring his neck!) Spotting my face, good old Santa could see I had NO Christmas spirit. You’d even agree! He said not a thing but went straight to his work And filled all our stockings. (I felt like a jerk- Here was Santa, bringing us gladness and joy;
And I’d been too busy to buy even one toy!) THEN-he spied my research on the table all spread. "A genealogist!" he cried. (My face turned all red!) "Tonight I’ve met many like you." Santa grinned, As he pulled from his sack a large book he had penned.
I gazed with delight! The cover, it read:
Genealogy Lines for Which You Have
Plead.
He said- as he gave me a great Santa hug, "I know what it’s like for a genealogy bug. While the elves made the sleigh full of toys I now carry, I did some research in the North Pole Library. This wonderful treat I’m now able to bring To genealogy folk who just can’t find a thing. So, off you must go to your bed for a rest.
I’ll clean up for you this ‘history-cal’ mess."
I climbed up the stairs full of gladness and glee
And I smiled back at Santa who’d brought something-for me! As I settled in bed, I heard Santa’s clear whistle To those deer, who left our roof like the down of a thistle. And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight, "Family hist’ry is FUN! Merry Christmas! Good night!
That night I slept tight in my warm little bed
While ship lists and land grants danced round in my head. The morn fin’lly came and I dashed down the stair To the first floor, to stop...and then...to just stare! From the top of our tree to the toe of the mistle- My house, roof to floor, was as clean as a whistle! And sitting right there on the dining room table Were proofs for Gram’s story I’d thought just a fable! And on the sideboard in a beautiful frame Was a portrait of my great-grandfather, Jacob by name!
‘Side my computer, a new manual I thought I could see...?
Yes! Dear Santa had brought a gen upgrade to me! On the wall above that a chart was affixed With my pedigree on it! Back to ten-sixty-six! And there, ‘neath the tree, was Dear Santa’s book With a gift tag that said, "Little ‘Bug’, take a look And see, if you may, just what you will find here:
Things of all kinds from your ancestor’s days! Dear ‘Bug’, you’ll even see that I’ve laid in My book some of your surnames, the ones that are ‘maiden’! And to show that I understand you, of course, I’ve included for each fact its own complete source. Last but not least," ...oh dear, the suspense is... (What I read then completely shattered my senses, For Santa’s last words, written in all the right tenses:) "You’ll find there the entire eighteen-ninety census!"
Hours later while we relaxed round the tree, I wondered, as my daughters each tried to thank me For their Barbies, their sweaters, their stockings and such, And my spouse, for the gifts that had pleased him so much- Just how could I tell them-it’s really no spoof- That Santa Claus LIVES!
And that is the truth!
"A Genealogist’s Christmas Eve" section: Author unknown, revised, with thanks to the unknown author, by Carolyn J. McQuaid Thomas, December 1997.
"Christmas Day" section original by Carolyn J. McQuaid Thomas
western37@home.com 12/1997-11/1998Hello Daniell,
What a nice surprise! Yes, you have my permission to use my version of "A Genealogist's Christmas" for your online family newsletter, providing the credits to the unknown revisionist of "Twas the Night" and for my efforts are included. Carolyn J. McQuaid Thomas
Hi Dan,
How nice to hear from you again. Of course you may, and thanks for asking!
Carolyn
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