.--._.--.--.__.--.--.__.--.--.__.--.--._.--.
_(_ _Y_ _Y_ _Y_ _Y_ _)_
[___] [___] [___] [___] [___] [___]
/:' \ /:' \ /:' \ /:' \ /:' \ /:' \
|:: | |:: | |:: | |:: | |:: | |:: |
\::. / \::. / \::. / \::. / \::. / \::. /
\::./ \::./ \::./ \::./ \::./ \::./
'=' '=' '=' '=' '=' '='
__ /\ __ __ /\ __ __ /\ __ __ /\ __
\_`\/`_/ .\'/. \_`\/`_/ .\'/. \_`\/`_/ .\'/. \_`\/`_/
<_>()<_>-=>*<=-<_>()<_>-=>*<=-<_>()<_>-=>*<=-<_>()<_>
/_,/\,_\ '/.\' /_,/\,_\ '/.\' /_,/\,_\ '/.\' /_,/\,_\
\/ \/ \/ \/
.\/. It's okay if you're a little bottom .\/.
-=><=- heavy -*- Hold your ground, even -=><=-
'/\' when the heat is on. -*- Wearing '\/'
__ /\ __ white is always appropriate. -*- __ /\ __
\_`\/`_/ -*- Winter is the best of the four \_`\/`_/
<_>()<_> seasons. -*- It takes a few extra <_>()<_>
/_,/\,_\ rolls to make a good midsection. /_,/\,_\
\/ -*- There is nothing better than a \/
.\/. foul-weather friend. -*- The key to .\/.
-=><=- life is to be a jolly, happy soul. -=><=-
'/\' -*- It's not the size of the carrot, '\/'
__ /\ __ but the placement that counts -*- __ /\ __
\_`\/`_/ We're all made up of mostly water. \_`\/`_/
<_>()<_> -*- You know you've made it when <_>()<_>
/_,/\,_\ they write a song about you. -*- /_,/\,_\
\/ Accessorize! Accessorize! Access- \/
.\/. orize! -*- Avoid yellow snow. -*- .\/.
-=><=- Don't get too much sun. -*- Don't -=><=-
'/\' put someone else's corncob pipe in '/\'
__ /\ __ your mouth - you never know where __ /\ __
\_`\/`_/ it's been. -*- It's embarrassing \_`\/`_/
<_>()<_> when you can't look down and see <_>()<_>
/_,/\,_\ your feet. -*- It's fun to hang out /_,/\,_\
\/ in your front yard. -*- Always put \/
.\/. your best foot forward. -*- There's .\/.
-=><=- no stopping once you're on a roll. -=><=-
'/\' . _{_}_ * '/\'
__ /\ __ + /_..._\ + __ /\ __
\_`\/`_/ * /` `\ \_`\/`_/
<_>()<_> | _.-----._ | <_>()<_>
/_,/\,_\ ,_ \/ o o \/ . _ /_,/\,_\
\/ \| | V | , |/ * \/
.\/. + _\\ . \ '...' / \//--. .\/.
-=><=- ` \\/ |`'-----;`\-.//_ -=><=-
'/\' .--\\ .'-.____.|-(.// , . '/\'
__ /\ __ \) _ \ \/ '-'\ __ /\ __
\_`\/`_/ * ; (_) | |;.__/ + \_`\/`_/
<_>()<_> " "" | _ \ \| . "" <_>()<_>
/_,/\,_\ """" "| (_) \_.;"" "" /_,/\,_\
\/ "" \ / "" " \/
.\/. "" .. '._ _.' H A P P Y .\/.
-=><=- .. '-----' H O L I D A Y S-=><=-
'/\' """ .. """ '/\'
__ /\ __ ""__ /\ __ "" __ /\ __ ""__ /\ __
\_`\/`_/ .\'/. \_`\/`_/ .\'/. \_`\/`_/ .\'/. \_`\/`_/
<_>()<_>-=>*<=-<_>()<_>-=>*<=-<_>()<_>-=>*<=-<_>()<_>
/_,/\,_\ '/.\' /_,/\,_\ '/.\' /_,/\,_\ '/.\' /_,/\,_\
\/ \/ \/ \/
`'`;,
___H_ _(`)
_ _ 'Twas the night before Christmas _/\ \ ( ) )
(o\_/o) and all through the house... /\__\\____\( )_)
|. .| Not a creature was stirring, ||""||''''| |`|
=\ /= not even a mouse. ~~~`""""`""""`~~~~~~
^ _ _ _ _
The stockings were hung |=| |=| |~| |=|
o _ by the chimney with care, | | | | | | | |
|(')---.| In hopes that St. Nicholas /(| /(| /(| /(|
|~~|o _ | would soon be there. (_/ (_/ (_/ (_/
|===|(')---.|
|~~| | The children were all nestled _,_
o _|=======| all snug in their beds, _,_(( )
|(')---.| While visions of sugar plums (( )`-`_,_
|~~| | danced in their heads. '-' (( )
|=======| `-`
o _ And Mamma in her 'kerchief, ___,
|(')---.| and I in my cap, /(__\ .---.
|~~| | Had just settled our brains |__)__| / \_\
|=======| for a long winter's nap. ,@@. .@@, |_____|\|
,@@ ^ @@, //. .\\
(IIIIIIIIIII) When out on the lawn `"\_=_/"` ( ^ )
) ; ( there arose such a clatter, \_=_/
( ;|; ) I sprang from my bed
( ;`|`; ( to see what was the matter. * ____ . *
) ;' | '; ( .'_ '.
(=@'--|--'@=) Away to the window ' ` `)a \ . '
) '; | ;` ( 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. _ _H_ +
/ /_/\/\_\ \ + [_] (_)_
_/\/\_ When, what to my wondering |=( : ) .
/\ /\ eyes should appear, ' |( : )
* : * ' But a miniature sleigh, `~~`~~`"""`~~`~
. _\/ \/_ . and eight tiny reindeer.
* \ \ / / * __. .--,
-=>: X :<=- With a little old driver, .=,{\/ _/ /`)
* / _/ \_ \ * so lively and quick, . ' (`._(_.;` /
' /\ /\ ' I knew in a moment . ' \_________/
* ' * it must be St. Nick. (___Y_____Y___,
.-/___,-/___,-/___,-/___, . '
.-/___,-/___,-/___,-/___, ) 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! /| 6 6 |
| | (_, ,_) _\/ \/_| |
| Y | | o o | To the top of the porch! _\-'"'-/_ | Y |
`._|_.' | | To the top of the wall! (_, ,_)'._|_.' /
| 0 | Now dash away! Dash away! | ^ ^ | \/ \/_
\ / '._|_.' Dash away all! | | _\-'"'-/_
_\/ \/_ | @ |(_, ,_)
_\-'"'-/_ As dry leaves that before \ '._|_.'/ | 0 0 |
(_, ,_) the wild hurricane fly, _\/ \/_ | |
| 9 9 | When they meet with an _\-'"'-/_ | \_/ |
| | obstacle mount to the sky; (_, ,_) '._|_.'
| V |/ \/_ | a a |
'._|_.'\-'"'-/_ So up to the house-top | |
(_, ,_) the coursers they flew, | Y | '97
| e e | With the sleigh full of toys, '._|_.' jgs
| | and St. Nicholas too.
| Y |
'._|_.' And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
, , The prancing and pawing 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, { ` }
|=| o _\~~\ o |=| from his head to his foot. { }
_|-| !(__,__| ! |-|_ And his clothes were all { }
/==_| ! _,_.__ ! |=_-\ tarnished with ashes and soot; `-,-`
|jgs|/^\^=^^=^/^\| _=|
A bundle of toys
he had flung on his back,
_....,_ And he looked like a \*/
_.-` _,..,_'. peddlar just opening his pack. __\\U//__
_,-`/#o \ '. |\\ | | \\|
'-.\___/.-` His eyes-- how they twinkled! | \\| |\ \|()-()
His dimples how merry! |\ \| |\\ |/. .\
His cheeks were like roses, |\\ | | \\|\ Y /_
__.--~~.,-.__ his nose like a cherry! .--.| \\| |\ O__`&`__O
`~-._.-(`-.__`-. /____\\ \| |\\ |/ \
\ `~~` His droll little mouth \~~~~/"[B]"""""()/^\()
.--./ \ Was drawn up in a bow, `--` [A][C]
/# \ \.--. And the beard of his chin
\ / /# \ was as white as the snow;
'--' \ / _...._
'--' The stump of a pipe .::o:::::.
_ he held tight in his teeth, .:::'''':o:.
{_} And the smoke it encircled ::: :::
/ \ his head like a wreath; :o:_ _:o:
/ \ `:}_>()<_{:'
/_____\ He had a broad face `'//\\'`
{`_______`} and a little round belly, // \\
// . . \\ That shook when he laughed, /' '\
( (__O__) ) like a bowl full of jelly.
{[]==u `-'}
{ } He was chubby and plump, ____
/{ }\ a right jolly old elf, .'` `\
/ '. .' \ And I laughed when I saw him, ;---.._ \
/_/ `"` \_\ in spite of myself; ,=,==, \_...__\ |
{__}###[_]###{__} __\|_/__ | a - '.|
(_/\_________/\_) A wink of his eye | || |--.o.--'(_)
|___|___| and a twist of his head, | || |-' = '-` )-.
jgs |--|--| 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; '-.; '--| ; .-'|
[IIIII] then turned with a jerk, `'--.;--'...-'
[IIIII]=|
|=====|=| 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 !"
__. .--,
.-/___,-/___,-/___,-/___, _.-.=,{\/ _/ /`)
.-/___,-/___,-/___,-/___, ) _..-'`-(`._(_.;` /
`\ _ )`\ _ )`\ _ )`\ _ )<`--''` (__\_________/___,
/< <\ </ /< /< /< </ /< (_____Y_____Y___,
.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.
-=[ Teach the Children ]=- 12/97
.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.
- TEACH THE CHILDREN - Author Unknown
ASCII art by joan stark
_
(__/_) .-'''''-.
_ | |'-----'|
/ \|ate one Christmas Eve, I sank back, |-.....-|
\__|\_ tired but content, into my | |
easy chair. The kids were in bed, the gifts | |
were wrapped, the milk and _,._ | |
cookies waited by the __.o` o`"-. | |
fireplace for Santa. .-O o `"-.o O )_,._ | |
( o O o )--.-"`O o"-.`'-----'`
'--------' ( o O o)
`----------`
As I sat back admiring the tree with its decorations,
I couldn't help feeling that something |
important was missing. It wasn't \ ' /
long before the tiny, twinkling -- (*) --
tree lights lulled me to sleep. >*<
I don't know how long I slept, >0<@<
but all of a sudden I knew that >>>@<<*
I wasn't alone. >@>*<0<<<
>*>>@<<<@<<
I opened my eyes, and you can >@>>0<<<*<<@<
imagine my surprise when I saw >*>>0<<@<<<@<<<
Santa Claus himself standing >@>>*<<@<>*<<0<*<
next to my Christ- \*/ >0>>*<<@<>0><<*<@<<
mas tree. __\\U//__ >*>>@><0<<*>>@><*<0<<
|\\ | | \\| >@>>0<*<0>>@<<0<<<*<@<<
He was dressed | \\| | _(UU)_ >((*))_>0><*<0><@<<<0<*<
all in fur from |\ \| || / //||.*.*.*.|>>@<<*<<@>><0<<<
his head to his |\\_|_|&&_// ||*.*.*.*|_\\db//__
foot just as """"|'.'.'.|~~|.*.*.*| _____|_
poem described him, |'.'.'.| ^^^^^^|____|>>jgs>>|
but he was not the ~~~~~~~~ '""""`-------'
"jolly old elf" of Christmas legend. The man who stood
before me looked sad and disappointed. And there were
tears in his eyes.
____ "Santa, what's wrong?" I asked.
;` `'-._ "Why are you crying?"
/ \ /\
/` \ | ; "It's the children." Santa
/ \ | | replied sadly.
/ `\ | |
/ \_ / | "But Santa, the children love
; / `\ | you." I said.
,|_ __ \__/ |
_\_o/_( |_ "Oh, I know they love me, and
/`"=/\==""=="=="=="=="`\ they love the gifts I bring
| )/ | them," Santa said, "but the
\ / children of today seem to
/';=""==""==""==""==";`\ have somehow missed out on
| /` /~\ /~\ `\ | the true spirit of Christmas.
| \ _ \o/ \o/ _ / | It's not their fault. It's
\ ; (_) ` o (_) ; / just that the adults,
/ |\_.-""(__)""-._/| \ many of them not having
| \ /\ / | been taught themselves,
/ '.___.' '.___.' \ have forgotten to teach
| ,==, | the children."
| ' ' |
\ / "Teach them what?" I asked.
| |
\ / Santa's kind old face became
'. .' soft, more gentle. His eyes
jgs '-.__ __.-' began to shine with something
'---'--'---' more than tears. He spoke softly.
"Teach the children the true meaning of Christmas.
Teach them that the part of Christmas we can see, hear,
and touch is much more than meets the eye. Teach them the
symbolism behind the customs and traditions of Christmas
which we now observe. Teach them what it is they truly
represent."
| Santa reached into his bag and pulled out a
\|/ tiny Christmas tree and set it on my mantle.
\\|// "Teach them about the Christmas tree.
\\\Y/// Green is the second color of Christmas.
\\\|/// The stately evergreen,
\\\\Y//// with it's unchanging color,
\\\\|//// represents the hope of eternal life in Jesus.
`\\Y//` It's needles point heavenward as a reminder
`#` that man's thoughts should turn
__#__ heavenward as well."
[_ _]
\___/ Santa reached into his bag again
and pulled out a shiny star and placed it at
the top of the small tree. * ' . .
"The star was the heavenly sign . | .
of promise. God promised a Savior \ | / +
for the world and the star was * \|/
the sign of the fulfillment of --==> * <==-- '
that promise on the night that + /|\ .
Jesus Christ was born. . / | \
Teach the children that God . ' | ' *
always fulfills his promises, |
and that wise men still seek Him." . ' .
"Red," said Santa, "is the first color of Christmas."
He pulled forth a red ornament for the tiny tree.
____ "Red is deep, intense, vivid. It is the
.' '. color of the life-giving blood that flows
/ # \_ through our veins. It is the symbol of
| {_{c} God's greatest gift. Teach the children
\ / `\ that Christ gave his life and shed his
'.____.' (__) blood for them that they might have
eternal life. When they see the color
red it should remind them of that most wonderful gift."
Santa found a silver bell in his pack and placed it on
the tree. "Just as lost sheep are guided ,
to safety by the sound of the bell, it /\`--.
continues to ring today for all to be |o-| )D
guided to the fold. Teach the children \/.--'
to follow the true Shepherd, who gave
His life for the sheep."
