good afternoon um welcome to the city of bel plain um we're in some unprecedented times with colburn as we know so this is the city council's version of the night before christmas this book is written by clement seymour and illustrated by cheryl harness so it is going to be our pleasure this evening to read to you and recite the night before christmas twas the night before christmas went off through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse the stockings were hung by the chimney with care and hopes that saint nicholas soon would be there the children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads and mama and kirchoff and i in my camp had just settled down for a long winter's nap when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter i sprang from my bed to see what was matter matter away to the window i flew like a flash tore up in the shutters and threw up the sash the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave a luster of midday to objects below when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh in eight tiny rain gear with a little old driver so lively and quick i knew in a moment it must be saint nick more rapid than eagles his core serves they came and he whistled and shouted and called him by name now bashar now dancer now prancer and vixen on comet on to the top of the porch to the top of the wall now dash away dash away dash away all as dry leaves said before the wild her came fly when they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky so up to the house top the coursers they flew with sleigh below toys and saint nicholas too and then in a twinkling i heard on the roof the prancing and pine of each little hoof as i drew in my head and was turning around down the chimney saint nicholas came with a bound he was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot and his clothes were tarnished with ashes and soot a bundle of toys had flung on his back and he looked like a peddler just opening his path his eyes they twinkled his dimples how mary his cheeks were like roses his nose like a cherry his rolled little mouth was drawn up like a bow and his beard on his chin was as white as snow the stump of his pipe he held tight in his teeth up the smoke he encircled his head like a wreath he had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl of full of jelly he was chubby and plump a jolly old elf and laughed when i saw him in spite of myself a wink of his eyes and a twist of his head soon gave me to me to know i had nothing to dress he spoke not a word but went straight to his work and filled all the stockings and laying his finger aside his nose and giving a nod up the chimney he rose he sprang to a sleigh to his team gave a whistle and away they flew like the down of a thistle but i heard him explain here he drove out of sight happy christmas to all and to all a good night that was a fun story on behalf of the city of elk lane all their employees and staff and the council we want to wish you all happy and safe holidays this year as we said it's been a challenging year thank you for all the support we were as a city fortunate to still achieve a lot of great things this past year and look forward to a very prosperous 2021 hopefully with the vaccine coming things will get back to a little more normal for all of us so again thank you for your support we're working very hard to continue to build on our favorite hometown and make life living in belle plaine the dream that it always is to be so thank you very much and happy holidays you