X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 110f55,f281a507719d642d,start X-Google-Attributes: gid110f55,public X-Google-Thread: f996b,f281a507719d642d,start X-Google-Attributes: gidf996b,public X-Google-Thread: fbb9d,f281a507719d642d,start X-Google-Attributes: gidfbb9d,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1994-12-25 10:08:05 PST Path: nntp.gmd.de!newsserver.jvnc.net!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!sashimi.wwa.com!not-for-mail From: boba@wwa.com (Bob Allison) Newsgroups: rec.arts.ascii,alt.ascii-art,alt.binaries.pictures.ascii Subject: Line: Christmas Date: 25 Dec 1994 10:08:40 -0600 Organization: WorldWide Access - Chicago Area Internet Services 312-282-8605 708-367-1871 Lines: 1006 Sender: boba@gagme.wwa.com Approved: boba@wwa.com Message-ID: <3dk5e8$g72@gagme.wwa.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: gagme.wwa.com Xref: nntp.gmd.de rec.arts.ascii:3452 alt.ascii-art:18439 .qggL * .gggr. . ' . * . + PMML . /|MM '. + ' |!MM,' /`|MM .d/"q, qgg;+Ml qgg;+Ml vgg. .y. Vv Vv Vv Vv | YMM,j' |MM MM;.jMl |MM` " |MM` " qM| j` x O o, o, o, o, | qM#' |MM MM| |MM + |MM . MMg' /(_){-}+--===--===--===--=== .j|. qF .+MM..'MMbxr` jMM. jMM. * 'MF \=====/ > > > > > > > > . * x, / .x/--\xxl ,xx . * ,gb v#' . . ' * .dMT 'q| |MM ' '"' .dM * dMM * ` |MM/dMg, qgg;+Ml qgg j/"`+ qMM-. qgg/dM#,w#Mb ,g'`fg, j/"`+ MMM .' |MM MM| |MM` " |MM MMbx/ |MM |MM |M| MM `p'. M| MMbx/ 'MMl + . |MM MM| |MM . |MM .`vMMl |MM |MM |M| MM , ,!. | .`vMMl 'vMb...r/` jMM..MM|. jMM. + jMM. +,.,P' 'MMx: jMM..dM|..MM, M j't | +,.,P' "" .' * . * <=-=:: -=-> . ' ------------------------------------------!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "=i.: [-' !!!!!! _/I\_____________o______________o___/I\ ((( * . /*__ ' /;:":.\ . ))) I"""_____________|______________|___"""I\ ((( *//_|__|_ ;}' '(, ' ))) [__][__][(******)__][__](******)[__][] \|(((\ --//--(oo)---- * o * ----))) [][__][__(******)][__][_(******)_][__] | |||\\ //>-( )-<* \\ O * ||| [__][__][_| |[__][__][| |][__][] | ||| \\)).(. .) * \\ ** ||| [][__][__]| .|_][__][__| .|__][__] | ||| || '''' * \\ * ||| [__][__][/ <_)[__][__]/ <_)][__][] | (((" || * * * \\ * ))) [][__][ /..,/][__][__][/..,/_][__][__] | ((( / \\ . ** O \\**))) [__][__(__/_L_L_L_L_L_(__/_L[__][__][] | (((______________*\\ * * ))) [__][__]] | , , . [__][__][] | |||-------------* \\ o *||| [][__][_] | .'i,#'/ , [][__][__] | >< ** o \\ () ** [__][__]] | O.'\#/#/, O [__][__][] | %%||%% >o< ** \\ ** _[][__][_] |__|=@@@@@@@=|____[][__][__] |_======_&&&&&_* <> o \\ O *_ [__][__]]/ /|\-------/|\ [__][__][]/ %%||%% &&&&& \\ * // Composite by _ ;--:- __---------------___ __--- Bob Allison c--U---^--''__[_ ooo___ | |_!_||_!_||_!_| | | |_! _--_ _|------------'_|,[______],|_________________|_|,|____ / \__ /__(@)(@)==(@)(@) (o)^(o) (o)(o)--(o)(o) (o "|\"""~"""~"/ @ \~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"" \ \_------| \ .:|> __T_===========___ ___---------------__ ___--- \ ####| | \__/ |..|_i_|.|_i_|..| | |_!_||_!_||_!_| | | |_! / / ## \| |_|_______________|,|_|_________________|,|_|____ / /"-______-"\ \ (o)(o)-(o)(o) (o)(o)--(o)(o) (o "L_JJ"~"""~"""~"\_JJ""~"""~"""~""""""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~"""~""" .............. .___.......... .\_ \......__. ...\ \..../ /. ....\ \/\/ /.. .....\_/\_/... elcome. This is our little Christmas file. Where known, the names of the submitter or artist is below the art. I have added a few pieces of text to keep things interesting. I am sure you will enjoy yourself. Merry Christmas, Scarecrow ****************************************************************************** + "X" "XXX" "XXXXX" "GOD JUL" "BUON ANNO" "FELIZ NATAL" "JOYEUX NOEL" "VESELE VANOCE" "MELE KALIKIMAKA" "NODLAG SONA DHUIT" "BLWYDDYN NEWYDD DDA" """""""BOAS FESTAS""""""" "FELIZ NAVIDAD" "MERRY CHRISTMAS" "KALA CHRISTOUGENA" "VROLIJK KERSTFEEST" "FROHLICHE WEIHNACHTEN" "BUON NATALE-GODT NYTAR" "HUAN YING SHENG TAN CHIEH" "WESOLYCH SWIAT-SRETAN BOZIC" "MOADIM LESIMHA-LINKSMU KALEDU" "HAUSKAA JOULUA-AID SAID MOUBARK" """""""'N PRETTIG KERSTMIS""""""" "ONNZLLISTA UUTTA VUOTTA" "Z ROZHDESTYOM KHRYSTOVYM" "NADOLIG LLAWEN-GOTT NYTTSAR" "FELIC NADAL-GOJAN KRISTNASKON" "S NOVYM GODOM-FELIZ ANO NUEVO" "GLEDILEG JOL-NOELINIZ KUTLU OLSUM" "EEN GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR-SRETAN BOSIC" "KRIHSTLINDJA GEZUAR-KALA CHRISTOUGENA" "SELAMAT HARI NATAL - LAHNINGU NAJU METU" """""""SARBATORI FERICITE-BUON ANNO""""""" "ZORIONEKO GABON-HRISTOS SE RODI" "BOLDOG KARACSONNY-VESELE VIANOCE " "MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR" "ROOMSAID JOULU PUHI -KUNG HO SHENG TEN" "FELICES PASUAS - EIN GLUCKICHES NEUJAHR" "PRIECIGUS ZIEMAN SVETKUS SARBATORI VESLLE" "BONNE ANNEBLWYDDYN NEWYDD DDADRFELIZ NATAL" """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX >From Mike Jittlov XXXXXXXXXXXXX ,i!!!!!!;, .,;i!!!!!'`,uu,o$$bo. !!!!!!!'.e$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. !!!!!!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P !!!!!!!,`$$$$$$$$P""`,,`" i!!!!!!!!,$$$$",oed$$$$$$ !!!!!!!!!'P".,e$$$$$$$$"'? `!!!!!!!! z$'J$$$$$'.,$bd$b, `!!!!!!f;$'d$$$$$$$$$$$$$P',c,. !!!!!! $B,"?$$$$$P',uggg$$$$$P" !!!!!!.$$$$be."'zd$$$P".,uooe$$r `!!!',$$$$$$$$$c,"",ud$$$$$$$$$L !! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ !'j$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ d@@,?$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P ?@@f:$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$' "" `$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$F `3$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$F `"$$$$$P?$$$$$$$"` `"" Santa from Allen Mullen A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS by Clement Clarke Moore 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that ST. NICHOLAS soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; "Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN! On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT." . $ .$r $$$ $$$ J$$$L $$$$$ c. .$$$$$. .z *$$$e. $$$$$$$ .e$$$P "$$$$$$$$e$$$$$$$e$$$$$$$$" "$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$" ^$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$" $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ .$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. z$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$c z$$$$$$$$*$$$$$$$*$$$$$$$$c d$$$*"" $$$$$$$ ^"*$$$b "" ^$$$$$" "" $$$$$ 3$$$F $$$ $$$ ^$% $ Star by Gilo94' " @@ @@ @@@ @@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@ @@@ @@ @@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@ @@ @@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@ @@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@ @@ @@@ @@ @@@@ @@@@@@ @@ @@ @@ @@@ @@@@ @@ @@@ @@ @@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@ @@ @@@@ ******************************************************************************* * ============================================ + | + * * ============================================ *-|//-* * * ||| . . . | . . . ||| > +--+--+ < * * ||| . . . | . . . . ||| *-//|-* * * ||| . . . . . . | . . . . /||| + | + * * |||. Season's Greetings! . . / ||| * * |||\. . . | . /\ /. ||| + | + Merry * * ||| \ . /\ . . |. /\. / \/. ||| *-|//-* Christmas * * ||| \. /. \ ./\ | ./ \ ./ . \ . ||| > +--+--+ < * * ||| . \/. \/\/ \ | / . \/ . . ||| *-//|-* * * |||=====================================||| + | + * * ||| . .\ * \ .|\/ . . .\ . .. ||| |------------| * * ||| . \. *** . | \. . \. .*||| | | * * ||| . . *****. | .\ . . \ / ||| |------------| * * ||| . . *******. | . . . * \. / ||| * * ||| . . ********* | . *** . / ||| ====================== * * ||| . . * . | . ***** . ||| ======************====== * * ||| . . . | . ******* . . ||| ======************====== * * ||| . @ . . | . ********* . ||| ======*** ***====== * * ||| . + + . | . *********** . ||| ======** **====== * * ||| . . . . | . * . ||| ======** **====== * * ||| | ||| ====== | | ====== * ******************************************************************************* . . * | * . * . * / * . , * . * `;. * - ;:, - * - . . - ,:;:, . ,:;%;;:, * / ::;%#%;:: * . * ::;%#%;:' `:%#%' . .,,. * . # .,sSSSSs # .,sSSSSSSSS .,sSSSSSSSSSSSS' .,sSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSs, .sSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS sSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS' `SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS' sSSSS;nww;SSS;mwwwn;SSSSs `SSS;nnw;sSSSs;wwwnnn;SSSs .sSS;nnnw;SSSSS;wwwnnn%;SSS .SSSS;nnnww;SSS;mwwwnnn%;SS' SSSSS;nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; `SSS'%nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; ;%%nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; ;%%nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; ;%%nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; ;%%nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; ;%%nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; ;%%nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; ;%%nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; ;%%nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; ;%%nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; , ;%%nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; .,;;;,.,; ;%%nnnwwwmmmmmwwwnnn%%; ; ; `;;;;,;;;,.,; ;%%nnnwwwmmmmmnnnnnn%%; , .;;,.,;;;. ;;;;;;;;,;;;;;,., ;%%nnnnnnnnn;,ooo,;n%%; ;;;;;,;;,;;,;;;,. ;' `;;;;;;,;;;;.;%%nnn;,ooo,;OOOOO;n%%; .;;,;;;;;;;;;;,;;'', ;' ';;;;,;;,... OOOOO;`OOO'..,,;,;;,;;;''';;;''';;' ';;' '''''`OOO'OOooo' ''' ;' ' ' ' ' ;,.,;, `OOO' ;,.;;';;;';,;. ;,.;;';;;;;;;;;;;' .,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;' ';' ';' ';; Candle from Mark Van Hooren ********************** A Christmas poem by Harvey Ehrlich ******************* 'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck... How to live in a world that's politically correct? His workers no longer would answer to "Elves", "Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves. And labor conditions at the north pole Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul. Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety, Released to the wilds by the Humane Society. And equal employment had made it quite clear That Santa had better not use just reindeer. So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid, Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid! The runners had been removed from his sleigh; The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A. And people had started to call for the cops When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops. Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened. His fur trimmed red suit was called "Unenlightened." And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows, Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation, Demanding millions in over-due compensation. So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife, Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life, Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz, Demanding from now on her title was Ms. And as for the gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion That making a choice could cause so much commotion. Nothing of leather, nothing of fur, Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her. Nothing that might be construed to pollute. Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot. Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise. Nothing for just girls. Or just for the boys. Nothing that claimed to be gender specific. Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific. No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth. Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth. And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden, Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden. For they raised the hackles of those psychological Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological. No baseball, no football...someone could get hurt; Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt. Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe; And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away. So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed; He just could not figure out what to do next. He tried to be merry, tried to be gay, But you've got to be careful with that word today. His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground; Nothing fully acceptable was to be found. Something special was needed, a gift that he might Give to all without angering the left or the right. A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision, Each group of people, every religion; Every ethnicity, every hue, Everyone, everywhere...even you. So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth... "May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth." Notice: This poem is copyright 1992 by Harvey Ehrlich. It is free to distribute, without changes, as long as this notice remains intact. All follow-ups, requests, comments, questions, distribution rights, etc should be made to mduhan@husc.harvard.edu . Happy Holidays! $eeee^ . .$$$$$$..ze* ..e" . .e. 4$$$F .e$$$$"$$$*3P .$$$ $$ $$" 4$$*z$. '$$P$$$P-*".d$ z$P.$$ ^" $ $P"cC$" .$$F$*" =$$$$ .$P.$$" * $$"-$P .$$$ .ed$$$$$P* "$.$$F c "F.$$ $$*" "*$$$P" $P**" \ .." 4".e$$$$$" . ." ". d% == . de*"" " .$$e...eb "L ". /" .e$$$$$$$$$beeeee "==......-" . =====$$$**$$$$*\$$$$$**$$$$ " $$ ^"%e."""4$$$$".e$$$$$b. . "" "$$c . """^""")CCCC3$ee= $$r ^$$e$$$$C"$$$$$$$$*" "*" 4$b ^$$$$$$$b/$$$$$$" "*" " "**$"" Holly by Gilo94' / / /'| /'| | | | | __ | |__| |_ /_ \ , ___ , ___ / / < __ / |) | | / '__ `. / '__ `. /'| /'| | | | | /-| | | (__} | | (__} | | `-' | | | | | | {] | | \___/ | \___/ \___ | | / | / `---\ | | | | __ | | /' /' | | | | / __ \/ | | / | / | / \___/ /' /' \| / / /'| /'| / _ / | | | | /'| (_) /'| | |__| |_ _ | | ___, | | __ __ < __ / /' `\ | | '| | __ | | /_ \ / / /'__`'| | | | | | /-\ | | | | | /'__`\ | |) | | /'| /'|| {__`-' | | | | | \_/ | | | | | | {__) | /-| | | `-' | \__ \ | / | / \___/ /___, /___, \____,_\ | {] | \___ | ___} | /' /' `---\ _ | |'.___/ / __ \/ |' | / \___/ \| __/\__ \ / |/\| "( )&& ( )""""& &&&&&( )"" &&&( )""""& """"&&&&&( )&& &&&"""""""&&( ) ( )&&&&&&&&&&""""" &&&&&( )"""""&&&( )& ( )&&""""""&&( )&&&&&&&&& """"""( )&&&&&&( )&&&&( )& ( )&&&"""""""""&&&&&&&( )&& &&&&&( )&&&&&&&&"""""""&&&&&( ) /\___/\ &( )&&&&&&&&( )&&&&&&&"""&&&&&& | o o | )&&&&&( )&&&&""""""___\|/___&&&&&& __\_^_/__ ___\|/___ &&&&& | ||| |&""&&& (__/ \__)| ||| | __\|/__||| _|___\|/_____ _| . |_ |___|||___| |__|||__|||_| ||| | (__\___/__) |_____|||_____| IS THERE A SANTA CLAUS? Little Virginia O'Hanlon wrote to the New York Sun, asking if there was a Santa Claus, and this is what the newspaper said ... Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and genorosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existance. We would have no enjoyment except in sense and sight. 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I_][______ \ \ ][___I ][_____][_____][_____] [_____][____~~~ ____][ ********************* CAN YOU NAME THESE CHRISTMAS CAROLS? ****************** The following Christmas carols were written by government officials. Can you guess the original titles? 1. Move hitherward the entire assembly of those who are loyal in their belief. 2. Embellish interior passageways. 3. Natal celebration devoid of color as a hallucinatory phenomenon for me. 4. Twelve o'clock an a clement night witnessed is arrival. 5. The Christmas preceding all others. 6. Omnipotent supreme being who elicits respite to ecstatic distinguished males. 7. Jovial yuletide desired for the second person singular or plural by us. 8. 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X ! X ! X ! . ! X ! X ! X ! X * * O O O O .|. O O O O * * -*- * * Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise! '|` _ Happy New Year! * * Frohliche Weihnachten! *:* ("D Chag Sameach! * * Sarbatori Fericite! * . * ~(=r Boas Festas! * * Joyous Solstice! ** ** .../__\ Gut Yontif! * * Mele Kurisumasu! *** o *** [MJ] Iyi YIllar! * * Mele Kalikimaka! *\ O * Wesolych Swiat! * * Merry Christmas! ** \\ ** Velelykh Svyat! * * Happy Hanukkah! *** \\ *** Stastny Novy Rok! * * Pari Dzounount! * o \\ * Kelemes Unnepeket! * * Happy Holidays! ** O \\** Season's Greetings! * * Veseli Vanoce! ***\\ o \*** Gung Hay Fat Choy! * * Feliz Navidad! * \\ o * Felican Jarfinon! * * Joyeux Noel! ** o \\ O ** Joy to the World * * Bom Natal! **** \\ o **** - And to All a * * God Jul! ** o o \\ o ** Good Night! * * Cheers! *** O \\ *** * * *:D o_ ***************************** e@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ * _ <' )~ ___ ##### _v_ @@@"""""""""""""* * /<~ ["""] V o [___] _@_ #####__|~|_ A @" ___ ___________ * %'= @|HHH|[~] U |\ /|/^^^\##[{}{}{}{](") ! II__[w] | [i] [z] | * %' ) /%|HHH||$|/V\|XXX|~~~~~##[}{}{}{}](:)<*> {======|_|~~~~~~~~~| * %(__6 |==D|HHH||$|\^/|/ \|=====##[{}{}{}{](:) V /oO--000'"`-OO---OO-' ************************************************************************ >From Mike Jittlov CHRISTMAS EVE by Anee P. L. Field The Christmas fires brightly beam And dance among the holly boughts, The Christmas pudding's spicy steam With fragrance fills the house, While merry grows each friendly soul Over the foaming wassail bowl .;;+--i>!!!: x !!!!!!!!!!!!!! * !!!!!!!!!!!!!i * x <(<<,,,,._ x ,;jiiiii<)>=+=',c,~'` x .:;='ced$$F"?$$"?$$$b -==cq,. $$$"?$B" `"?C"$ "*c. 3$$$."T$be,._`\' * ..;ee$b "?$$buc,,,eP`~ "$, . ! :: .. .: :h ! .,,uu+=`"' "e, ::` ' '! !! 4! '! \d$$bc. .df"""==cc,:-+= * "4. ': .e$$e,...` `..,ed$$$$$$$$._,,uu="" ..'-"*e.4$$$$$$$$$$$$$P""?$$$$$$$$$b` :!:.~4! zJ*%^$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$. x d h.``4!:. 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So we asked Data from the Enterprise to write a version. And here it is. 'Twas the nocturnal segment of the diurnal period preceding the annual Yuletide celebration, and throughout our place of residence, kinetic activity was not in evidence among the possessors of this potential, including that species of domestic rodent known as Mus musculus. Hosiery was meticulously suspended from the forward edge of the wood burning caloric apparatus, pursuant to our anticipatory pleasure regarding an imminent visitation from an eccentric philanthropist among whose folkloric appellations is the honorific title of St. Nicholas. The prepubescent siblings, comfortably ensconced in their respective accommodations of repose, were experiencing subconscious visual hallucinations of variegated fruit confections moving rhythmically through their cerebrums. My conjugal partner and I, attired in our nocturnal head coverings, were about to take slumberous advantage of the hibernal darkness when upon the avenaceous exterior portion of the grounds there ascended such a cacophony of dissonance that I felt compelled to arise with alacrity from my place of repose for the purpose of ascertaining the precise source thereof. Hastening to the casement, I forthwith opened the barriers sealing this fenestration, noting thereupon that the lunar brilliance without, reflected as it was on the surface of a recent crystalline precipitation, might be said to rival that of the solar meridian itself - thus permitting my incredulous optical sensory organs to behold a miniature airborne runnered conveyance drawn by eight diminutive specimens of the genus Rangifer, piloted by a minuscule, aged chauffeur so ebullient and nimble that it became instantly apparent to me that he was indeed our anticipated caller. With his ungulate motive power travelling at what may possibly have been more vertiginous velocity than patriotic alar predators, he vociferated loudly, expelled breath musically through contracted labia, and addressed each of the octet by his or her respective cognomen - "Now Dasher, now Dancer..." et al. - guiding them to the uppermost exterior level of our abode, through which structure I could readily distinguish the concatenations of each of the 32 cloven pedal extremities. As I retracted my cranium from its erstwhile location, and was performing a 180-degree pivot, our distinguished visitant achieved - with utmost celerity and via a downward leap - entry by way of the smoke passage. He was clad entirely in animal pelts soiled by the ebony residue from oxidations of carboniferous fuels which had accumulated on the walls thereof. His resemblance to a street vendor I attributed largely to the plethora of assorted playthings which he bore dorsally in a commodious cloth receptacle. His orbs were scintillant with reflected luminosity, while his submaxillary dermal indentations gave every evidence of engaging amiability. The capillaries of his malar regions and nasal appurtenance were engorged with blood which suffused the subcutaneous layers, the former approximating the coloration of Albion's floral emblem, the latter that of the Prunus avium, or sweet cherry. His amusing sub- and supralabials resembled nothing so much as a common loop knot, and their ambient hirsute facial adornment appeared like small, tabular and columnar crystals of frozen water. Clenched firmly between his incisors was a smoking piece whose grey fumes, forming a tenuous ellipse about his occiput, were suggestive of a decorative seasonal circlet of holly. His visage was wider than it was high, and when he waxed audibly mirthful, his corpulent abdominal region undulated in the manner of impectinated fruit syrup in a hemispherical container. He was, in short, neither more nor less than an obese, jocund, multigenarian gnome, the optical perception of whom rendered me visibly frolicsome despite every effort to refrain from so being. By rapidly lowering and then elevating one eyelid and rotating his head slightly to one side, he indicated that trepidation on my part was groundless. Without utterance and with dispatch, he commenced filling the aforementioned appended hosiery with various of the aforementioned articles of merchandise extracted from his aforementioned previously dorsally transported cloth receptacle. Upon completion of this task, he executed an abrupt about- face, placed a single manual digit in lateral juxtaposition to his olfactory organ, inclined his cranium forward in a gesture of leave-taking, and forthwith effected his egress by renegotiating (in reverse) the smoke passage. He then propelled himself in a short vector onto his conveyance, directed a musical expulsion of air through his contracted oral sphincter to the antlered quadrupeds of burden, and proceeded to soar aloft in a movement hitherto observable chiefly among the seed-bearing portions of a common weed. But I overheard his parting exclamation, audible immediately prior to his vehiculation beyond the limits of visibility: "Ecstatic Yuletide to the planetary constituency, and to that self same assemblage, my sincerest wishes for a salubriously beneficial and gratifyingly pleasurable period between sunset and dawn." oo $$"$o o$$ $o o $$" $$$$"""$$ ooo $o " $$oo ooooo oo oo$ $o$ """$$ o$$$"""""$o$o """ "$" $$ oooo$o$oo o$$ ""$$o " oo$oo$""" "$$o $$"$ "$$o o""o "o$$"" "$$ o$" "o "$$o o$ $ o$$" $$$ $$ "oo ""$oo $" "$oo" o$$" o$"$$ $$ ""oo "$o ""oo" $$" oo"" $$ $$ """ ooooooo$$$oo$ooooo$$$ooooooooo """" $$ $o $" ""$$$" $o $$ o$ "$ $$ $$ oo"$o"o $$$"""" oo $$ o$$ "" """"" oo" ""ooo$$o ""o " o $$o $$ o" o$$$$$$$$$oo ""o " $$ $$ o " $$" o$" " """$$oo "" $$ $$ o$" o$" ""$o $$ $$o $$" $$ "$o $$"""oo o$ $$$o o$" o$ "$o $" " $o " "$$$o oo$" o$" "$$$o o$$ o"" $"$ "$$ooo$o$""" o$ $$o"$$oooo o$" "o o$ "" o$$ "$o """$"" ooo" $ $""$ o$$"""$$ "$oo oo "o "oo "o o$oo o$" "$o ""$oo $ $ $ "ooo "$ "o $$" "$o oooo$$$ """" $ $" "oo$"o$" "$o oo""" o$ o o" o" $$ $$o oo$" o$" $""" "o $$ o$o o$" $$$ o$$$$ o o$oo$ ""oo $" $$ o$" $$ooo$$" ""$$$ooo" $ o oo$" $$ o" oo$" "$$ ""$o $$$$$ $"$$ "$$$$o$$$"$$o o$$ "$o o$$" $ o$" $" "$ "$$oo$" "$$ o$$" " o$" $$$ "" "$o ooo$$" o$" $$o o$$$" $$$"" $$ooooo$"""""$$"""o$ooo $$$$ o$$"" "$$o $$$o $$$ """$$o"$o oo$$" "$oo ""$$oo o$""$o $$ "$$o o$$$" $$o "$$$$$ $$oooooooo$$$" $$o o$$$" "$$ o$$"$$oooo$$"""""""""$o "$$o$$$$$ooooo o""$$o o$" $$ """ "$o "$$$" ""o $ "$$o o$$ o$$ "$o $ o oooo $ "oo "$o o$" $$ $$ $ $ $ $ $$"" o" "$$o$$$ o $$ $$ " """ "o "$ " $o $ $$ $$" oo" ""o$ $$ $$o "$ "o $$ $$$ "o "oooo$ o$" "$"o o$o o" $ oo$$" "$$ "$o $$ $ " "" $$" "$$ " "oo" $ooooo o o ooooooooo o "$$ $$ $ $ " " """""$$" ""$oooooo o$ "$ ooo$"" " ""$"$ $$"$"""""""" o$ $o o$o HERE WE COME A WASSAILING Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green Here we come a-wandering so fair to be seen Love and joy come to you and to your wassail too And God bless you and send you a happy New Year And God send you a happy New Year God bless the master of this house, likewise the mistress, too And all the little children that round the table go . . . + . . . . . . # . . . . ### . . . . . 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"88888' (88888" ]b "888888888P" I8"" ,i8P Santa by Normand Veilleux `"""""" `I888888P" `""" Excerpt from A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens Oh, a wonderful pudding. Bob Cratchit said, and calmly too, that he regarded it as the greatest success achieved by Mrs Cratchit since their marriage. Mrs Cratchit said that now the weight was off her mind, she would confess she had had her doubts about the quantity of flour. Everybody had something to say about it, but nobody said or thought it was at all a small pudding for a large family. It would have been flat heresy to do so. Any Cratchit would have blushed to hint at such a thing. At last the dinner was all done, the cloth was cleared, the hearth swept, and the fire made up. The compound in the jug being tasted, and considered perfect, apples and oranges were put upon the table, and a shovel-full of chestnuts on the fire. Then all the Cratchit family drew round the hearth, in what Bob Cratchit called a circle, meaning half a one; and at Bob Cratchit's elbow stood the family display of glass. Two tumblers, and a custard-cup without a handle. These held the hot stuff from the jug, however, as well as golden goblets would have done; and Bob served it out with beaming looks, while the chestnuts on the fire sputtered and cracked noisily. Then Bob proposed: `A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us.' Which all the family re-echoed. `God bless us every one.' said Tiny Tim, the last of all. ****************************************************************************** boba@wwa.com END OF THE HOLIDAYS FILE ******************************************************************************