Carol Kosanke Peterson wrote: > ---------- > > From: KandIJones@aol.com > > To: Lynnely@aol.com; bectho@btigate.com; bandj@flash.net; > lleedlee@btigate.com; lindolie@airmail.net; joec@u.washington.edu; > hoberta@hilconet.com; kosanke@gwtc.net; verin@worldnet.att.net; > Polymer@aol.com; besecker@erinet.com; halea@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us; > Parsnswfe@aol.com; Retta10758@aol.com; mwilkins@netten.net; > vmay@geneseo.net; hilyr@mail.iswt.com; Ravenholt@aol.com; > etat@horizon.hit.net; crafton@webzone.net; jgilmore@sccoast.net; > macmcgui@brightok.net; bhchish@bellsouth.net > > Subject: Re: A Genealogist's Christmas > > Date: Tuesday, December 22, 1998 8:01 AM > > > > In a message dated 98-12-22 08:30:39 EST, you write: > > > > << >- A Genealogist's Christmas > > > > > >Carolyn J. McQuaid Thomas kindly provided the following: > > > > > > A Genealogist's Christmas > > > > > > 'Twas the night before Christmas > > > When all through the house > > > Not a creature was stirring, > > > Not even my spouse. The dining room table with clutter was spread > > > With pedigree charts, and with letters that said, > > > "Too bad! The data for which you wrote > > > Sank in a storm on an ill-fated boat." > > > Stacks of old copies of wills and such > > > Were proof that my 'hobby' had become just too much. > > > Our daughters were nestled all snug in their beds While > > > visions of Barbie dolls danced in their heads; > > > But I, at my table, was ready to drop > > > From work on my album, with more photos to crop. > > > Christmas was here, and such was my lot > > > That presents and goodies and toys I'd forgot! > > > Had I not been busy with grandparents' wills, I'd not have > > > forgotten to shop for such thrills. > > > Though others bought gifts to bring Christmas cheer, > > > I'd spent my time researching each birthdate and year. > > > While I was thus musing about my sad plight, > > > A clamour outside brought me a heart-stopping fright. > > > Away to the window I flew like a flash, > > > I tore open the drapes and yanked up the sash. And there to my > > > unbelieving eyes did appear > > > An overstuffed sleigh and some outsized reindeer! > > > Up to our rooftop those eight animals flew > > > With that sleigh full of toys and plump Santa Claus too. > > > A short second later I started to quake > > > 'Cause I knew what I heard was the tiles start to break. > > > I drew in my head- ouch!-it hit hard on the sash; > > > Then down our cold chimney fell Santa-KER-RASH! > > > 'Dear' Santa had come from the roof like a wreck, > > > Tracking soot on my carpet (I could just wring his neck!) > > > Spotting my face, good old Santa could see > > > I had NO Christmas spirit. You'd even agree! > > > He said not a thing but went straight to his work > > > And filled all our stockings. (I felt like a jerk- > > > Here was Santa, bringing us gladness and joy; > > > And I'd been too busy to buy even one toy!) > > > THEN-he spied my research on the table all spread. "A > > > genealogist!" he cried. (My face turned all red!) > > > "Tonight I've met many like you." Santa grinned, > > > As he pulled from his sack a large book he had penned. > > > I gazed with delight! The cover, it read: > > > Genealogy Lines for Which You Have Plead. > > > He said- as he gave me a great Santa hug, > > > "I know what it's like for a genealogy bug. > > > While the elves made the sleighful of toys I now carry, > > > I did some research in the North Pole Library. > > > This wonderful treat I'm now able to bring > > > To genealogy folk who just can't find a thing. > > > So, off you must go to your bed for a rest. > > > I'll clean up for you this 'history-cal' mess." > > > I climbed up the stairs full of gladness and glee > > > And I smiled back at Santa who'd brought something-for me! > > > As I settled in bed, I heard Santa's clear whistle > > > To those deer, who left our roof like the down of a thistle. > > > And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight, > > > "Family hist'ry is FUN! Merry Christmas! Good night! > > > > > > > > > Christmas Day > > > > > > That night I slept tight in my warm little bed > > > While ship lists and land grants danced round in my head. > > > The morn fin'lly came and I dashed down the stair > > > To the first floor, to stop...and then...to just stare! > > > From the top of our tree to the toe of the mistle- > > > My house, roof to floor, was as clean as a whistle! > > > And sitting right there on the dining room table > > > Were proofs for Gram's story I'd thought just a fable! > > > And on the sideboard in a beautiful frame Was a portrait of my > > > great-grandfather, Jacob by name! > > > 'Side my computer, a new manual I thought I could see...? > > > Yes! Dear Santa had brought a gen upgrade to me! > > > On the wall above that a chart was affixed > > > With my pedigree on it! Back to ten-sixty-six! > > > And there, 'neath the tree, was Dear Santa's book > > > With a gift tag that said, "Little 'Bug', take a look > > > And see, if you may, just what you will find here: > > > Things of all kinds from your ancestor's days! Dear > > > 'Bug', you'll even see that I've laid in > > > My book some of your surnames, the ones that are 'maiden'! > > > And to show that I understand you, of course, > > > I've included for each fact its own complete source. > > > Last but not least," ...oh dear, the suspense is... > > > (What I read then completely shattered my senses, For Santa's > > > last words, written in all the right tenses:) > > > "You'll find there the entire eighteen-ninety census!" > > > > > > Hours later while we relaxed round the tree, > > > I wondered, as my daughters each tried to thank me > > > For their Barbies, their sweaters, their stockings and such, > > > And my spouse, for the gifts that had pleased him so much- > > > Just how could I tell them-it's really no spoof- > > > That Santa Claus LIVES! > > > And that is the truth! > > > > > > > > > "A Genealogist's Christmas Eve" section: Author unknown, > > > revised, with thanks to the unknown author, by Carolyn J. > > > McQuaid Thomas, December 1997. > > > > > > "Christmas Day" section original by Carolyn J. McQuaid Thomas > > > dtthomas37@aol.com, 12/1997-11/1998 >> > > -- Tom & Theresa Courtney tomone@flash.net