12/24/2022
🎄Scout’s night before Christmas:
T’was the night before Christmas and all through the tent,
Not a creature was stirring, everyone was just spent.
The stockings were hung by the fire with care, In hopes that the Great Cub Master soon would be there.
The Scouts were all nestled all snug in the their sleeping bags,
While visions of foil packs danced in their heads.
And Ma in her neckerchief and I in my hat,
Had just settled in for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the woods there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my cot to see what was the matter.
Away to the tent flap I flew like a flash
Unzipped the zipper and undid the clasp.
The ice on the trees and the new fallen snow,
Made me shiver when the wind began to blow.
Then what to my wondering eyes should appear?
A miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
With a burly old driver so lively with luster,
I knew in a moment it was the Great Cub Master.
More rapid than Den Leaders his courses they came,
As he whistled and shouted and called out their names.
On Tigers, on Wolves, on Bears and Webelos
On, Tenderfoot, on Life Scouts, on Ventures and Eagles.
To the top of the tent, to the top of the chow hall,
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all.
As wet clothes before the scout cabins fly,
When they meet with a bottle rocket bound for the sky.
So up to the chow hall the courses they flew,
With a sleigh full of badges and the Great Cub Master, too.
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
The tapping and clawing of each little hoof.
As I made my way to the chow hall with nary a sound,
In through the door the Great Cub Master went with a bound.
He was dressed all in kaki from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all ironed and neatly put.
A bundle of badges he had in his pack,
He looked like a hiker unrolling his knapsack.
His eyes, how they glistened! His smile, it did glow.
His cheeks were all rosy from the cold and the snow.
His uniform demanded respect,
I could see,
I could hardly believe what was happening to me.
A piece of beef jerky he held tight in his teeth,
And the light from the fireplace encircled his head like a wreath.
His Cub Master patch glowed like a star in the sky,
And his unit numbers soon caught my eye.
He was tall and rugged, a right jolly old man,
I laughed when I saw him, just because I can.
A wink of his eye and a nod of head,
Soon led me to know that I must get back to bed.
He spoke not a word but went straight to his book,
And laid out all the Achievements the Scouts earned from all their hard work.
And placing his fingers in the air as he should,
He recited the Scout Oath as low as he could.
He jumped in his sleigh, to his team gave a shout,
You know, he didn’t even wake one Scout.
But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all and to all Scouts…Goodnight.”
