A woodworkers Christmas

I can’t claim this as mine, nor can I name the author. I was sent this in an email & it was described as an old story that had been around a long time. I really enjoyed it, I hope you do too.

Twas the night before christmas and all through the shop,
not a worker was stirring, all projects were stopped.

the chisels were left by the whetstone with care,
in hopes that the elves would come sharpen them there.

the tools were all nestled and snug where they lay,
while visions of woodshavings danced on each blade.

then up in the woodloft there came such a clatter,
the whole building shook from the weight of the matter.

and there on the creaky tin roof did appear,
a fine handmade sleigh drawn by ten dusty deer.

with a sparkly-eyed craftsman as spry as a buck,
who went by the nickname of “old saint woodchuck.”

he was dressed all in suede from his cap to his shoe,
and his clothes were all covered with sawdust and glue.

a bundle of tools he had tucked in his sack,
with a japanese saw sticking out of the back.

on his face he wore goggles and a dust-mask fit tightly,
his cheeks were like rosewood; his hearing shot slightly.

his skills were the sharpest and best in the land,
and he still had five fingers on each of his hands.

then quick as a chainsaw his staunch helpers came,
and he hooted and hollered and hailed them by name:

“now router, now ruler, now hammer and bitbrace;
on shaper, on scrollsaw, on jackplane and compass.”

all ran to the workbench and leapt to his call:
“now get to work, get to work, get to work all!”

so they dulled not an edge, but cut straight to their task,
and sawed, planed, pounded and scraped till, at last,

all the toys that the children were waiting to get,
were finished and wrapped (though the paint was still wet).

there were jacks made from walnut and dolls made of yew,
and an ash rocking horse with its tail painted blue,

a set of birch soldiers all carved from one log,
and even a hand-turned oak ball for the dog.

then the kindly crew tidied and swept every crack,
and saint woodchuck thanked them while stretch his back.

then he jumped in his stout sleigh and let out a yell,
and they roared from that shop at the tone of the bell.

but these words he exclaimed, as they vanished from sight:
“merry christmas to all—that’s enough for one night!”

Merry Christmas to all !!!

-- http://www.grandprairiewoodworks.com http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6453794