Summary:  *With thanks and apologies to either Clement Clarke Moore or Henry Livingston Jr (apparently there’s some question…)
Rating:  G  525 words

Written for the Bonanza Brand 2024 Advent Calendar

Bonanza

~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~

* Day 13 *

And To All A Good(ish) Night

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,

Little Joe Cartwright crept, soft as a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

But surely his favored gift wouldn’t be there.

Hop Sing in his night clothes and Pa in his cap

Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap—

And if he was careful to not make a clatter,

No one would come check to see what was the matter.

Away to the front door he crept in a flash,

Slipped onto the porch and across made a dash.

The moon on the yard and the dusting of snow

Gave a luster of day to the barn door below.

Then what to his wondering eyes did appear?

Handlebars and a frame and two wheels (but no gears).

It was in the last stall, it had been no trick,

And he nudged the door wide with a long-practiced kick.

More rapid than eagles!— than horses!—that frame,

And he whistled and shouted and called it by name.

“A bicycle! I knew that I heard Pa was fixin’

To get a big package from old Mr. Dixon.

Should I ride it right now, or will I take a fall?

But I want to! I want to! I want to, and all!”

As dry leaves the breeze lifts and takes up to the sky,

Joseph mounted the bicycle ready to fly.

Down the breezeway, out the barn door he blew,

Curls bouncing and howling a joyous, “Yahoo!”

And then in a twinkling he knew he had goofed,

For he heard confused voices from beneath the roof.

He thought real quick and was turning around

But then out the door his Pa burst with a bound!

He was rumpled and worn from his head to to his foot,

And his clothes were all crooked, his feet without boots.

His pistol and gun belt were slung cross his back

And he looked fierce and ready—then his jaw went slack.

His eyes, how they blazed! His “Joseph!” how scary!

His breath fogged before him, nose red like a cherry.

Hop Sing came behind, cleaver ready to throw,

But he put it away. “Back to China I go!”

Adam was next, his knife drawn from its sheath,

Then he stopped and stood watching and gritting his teeth.

Hoss only laughed, holding onto his belly,

Then ducked back inside—there were muffins and jelly.

With his family awake and no need now for stealth,

Joseph laughed when he saw them in spite of himself.

With a wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Joe jumped back on his bike, far too wound up for bed.

He made ready to flee, turned the bike with a jerk,

His feet hit the pedals, his legs went to work.

So cheeky his grin and gallant his pose—

He just couldn’t help himself now, I suppose.

His pa leaped from the porch, to his son gave a whistle,

But away that boy flew like the down of a thistle.

And they heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight,

“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

*********

Invention: Bicycle
Character:  Joe

Link to Day 14 of the Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar – Hope in a Dimming World by Patina