'Twas the night before Christmas & out on the ranch**** The pond was froze over & so was the branch.**** The snow was piled up belly-deep to a mule.**** The kids were all home on vacation from school,**** And happier young folks you never did see-**** Just all sprawled around a-watchin' TV.**** Then suddenly, some time around 8 o'clock,**** There came a surprise that gave them a shock!**** The power went off, the TV went dead!**** When Grandpa came in from out in the shed**** With an armload of wood, the house was all dark. **** "Just what I expected," they heard him remark. **** "Them power line wires must be down from the snow.**** Seems sorter like times on the ranch long ago." **** "I'll hunt up some candles," said Mom. "With their light, **** And the fireplace, I reckon we'll make out all right." **** The teen-agers all seemed enveloped in gloom.**** Then Grandpa came back from a trip to his room,**** Uncased his old fiddle & started to play**** That old Christmas song about bells on a sleigh. **** Mom started to sing, & 1st thing they knew**** Both Pop & the kids were all singing it, too. **** They sang Christmas carols, they sang "Holy Night," **** Their eyes all a-shine in the ruddy firelight.**** They played some charades Mom recalled from her youth, **** And Pop read a passage from God's Book of Truth.**** They stayed up till midnight-and, would you believe, **** The youngsters agreed 'twas a fine Christmas Eve.**** Grandpa rose early, some time before dawn;**** And when the kids wakened, the power was on..**** "The power company sure got the line repaired quick," **** Said Grandpa - & no one suspected his trick.**** Last night, for the sake of some old-fashioned fun, **** He had pulled the main switch - the old Son-of-a-Gun! **** -anonymous **** **** This transmission may contain information that is privileged, confidential, legally privileged, and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Although this transmission and any attachments are believed to be free of any virus or other defect that might affect any computer system into which it is received and opened, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that it is virus free and no responsibility is accepted by JPMorgan Chase & Co., its subsidiaries and affiliates, as applicable, for any loss or damage arising in any way from its use. If you received this transmission in error, please immediately contact the sender and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format. Thank you.