'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the tank, The Great Bubble Wall had stopped bubbling,
as Dr Wang paused to give thanks.
The Christmas ornaments were set in the gravel with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The Sea Monkeys were nestled all snug in their castle,
while visions of sugar-plums danced like a dangl-ing tassel;
Dr Wang had just settled down for a long evening's nap,
When outside the tank there arose such a clatter,
he swam to the surface to see what was the matter.
Up close to the glass he swam like a flash,
pushing apart the fake-plants in a great dash.
When what to his wondering fish eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
he knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than sharks 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, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the tank! To the top of the filter!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
So up to the aquarium-top the coursers they flew,
with the sleigh full of fish food, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, he heard on the light-hood,
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As he drew in his fin, and was swimming around,
down The Great Bubble Wall St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, even though it looked tacky,
and his clothes were all tarnished with fish slime and algae;
A bundle of air stones he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled Dr Wang's stocking; then turned with a jerk,
and laying his finger aside of his nose,
and giving a nod, up The Great Bubble Wall he rose.
He sprang to the waters surface and jumped into his sleigh,
then off on a wave, he went on his way.
I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
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