T'was the market before Christmas,
when all through the house
Not a buyer was stirring, --not even by a computer mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that a buyer would soon be there.
The owners were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of dollar signs 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 Realtor, and several buyers,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be some trick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Loan Officer! now, Appraiser! now, Inspector and buyer!
On, Seller! on Insurance! on, Title and Underwriting!
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 car full of buyers, and Realtor too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each inspectors hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney the Realtor came with a bound.
He was dressed a suit, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all clean of all ashes and soot;
A bundle of papers he had flung into his briefcase,
And he looked like a sales man just looking at space.

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 pen he held tight in his teeth,
And the writing it encircled his note pad 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 wrote all the contracts; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, to the closing table he rose;
He sprang to his car, to his team gave a whistle,
And away he 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."