T'was the night before Suzanna's Christmas Open House,

Every employee was scurrying around like a mouse! The stockings and ornaments were hung for display,

in hopes that the customers soon would all pay!

The wines were all nestled good snug in their ice,

While plates full of sugar cookies were lined up all nice! And mom with her dust cloth, and Anna one too,

Had just figured out there was no more to do. When out in the yard there arose such a clatter,

We all sprang to our feet to see what was the matter. Away to the front door we flew like a flash,

Tore open the screen door and stopped with a gasp!

The moon on the dirt of the of the spray painted ground,

gave the luster of glitter to objects around. When what to our wondering eyes should appear,

but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. With a little old driver so lively and quick,

we knew in a moment it must be a trick.

More rapid than Anna when she sees a yard sale sign,

we all realized he was not part of our Christmas design. Then he whistled and shouted and called us by name, "Now Susie, now Anna, Now Linda and Jenny,

On Bruce, and on Gail and On Lisa and Emmy!

From the top of the building to the outermost wall,

stop dusting and washing and fluffing it all" Then in a twinkling we heard on the roof,

the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As we drew in our heads and were turning around,

in the back door Santa came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot,

and his clothes were all vintage as we know they should! Where a bundle of toys should be hung on his back,

all that was there was a big empty sack! His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry.

He started picking out gifts, he never did tarry. He scooped up all things roses and

then anything cherries! Then moved to the next shelf

and picked out strawberries!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

he shopped thru the store, just like a pro. He picked up some linens and then a green wreath,

some jewelry, some postcards and a table with a leaf.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

that shook when he picked up some homemade plum jelly. He was chubby and plump as he picked out an elf

and we laughed when we saw him in spite of ourselves. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

soon showed him more goodies to fill up his sled. He told us his elves never found good antiques,

so Mrs Claus told him to go, and shop shabby chic! He bought all the stocking then turned with a jerk,

took a sip of our wine and said "Shopping's hard work!" And laying his finger aside of his nose,

Santa grabbed a plate full of cookies, and another cup with a rose. He paid for his presents, to his team gave a whistle

and on his way out picked up a bowl with a thistle. But I heard him exclaim with his sled packed up tight...

"Shop at Suzanna's!! They'll treat you right!!"

Hope to see you all at Suzanna's Antiques

Thursday, November 13th

6:30 Until ???

Written by Jenny Sellars

with help from Clement Clarke Moore or Henry Livingston