Listen, my children, and lend me your ears,
For here is a tale about Santa, my dears.
One night, way up North, while his reindeer were sleeping,
A dreadful old wolf came a-crawling and creeping.
Then, giving a spring, he attacked from the rear
And soon would have eaten a poor little deer,
But two able helpers of Santa's came running
And killed that old wolf for his treacherous cunning.![](http://webpages.charter.net/pistovelf/Christmas2/Cuddles%20&%20Tuckie/3GONE.gif)
© WHMC-KC, University of Missouri, 1996
The reindeer were frightened so much by the fight
They took to their heels in the dead of the night.
They all ran away and nobody knew whither
And poor dear old Santa is now in a dither,
For how can he reach all the girls and the boys
Without any team to deliver his toys.
If you know a way you can help him, you'd better
Sit right down this minute and write him a letter.
![](http://webpages.charter.net/pistovelf/Christmas2/Cuddles%20&%20Tuckie/4MOUNTAIN.gif)
© WHMC-KC, University of Missouri, 1996
There's an old legend they tell in the North
About the white reindeer that often come forth.
From out of a mountain they strangely appear
To lure away all of the little brown deer.
They lead them inside of the mountain and then
The little brown deer never come out again.
Now, that's what has happened to Santa's lost team,
But matters are not quite as bad as they seem.
![](http://webpages.charter.net/pistovelf/Christmas2/Cuddles%20&%20Tuckie/5FRIENDLY.gif)
© WHMC-KC, University of Missouri, 1996
Cuddles and Tuck found a reindeer one night
Outside in the yard and his fur was all white.
Attached to his collar they happened to note
A letter that good old St. Nicholas wrote.
Politely he asked the two children to go
In search of his reindeer. They're missing, you know.
Before little Cuddles and Tuckie could think,
Away they were carried, as quick as a wink.
![](http://webpages.charter.net/pistovelf/Christmas2/Cuddles%20&%20Tuckie/6TREEHSE.gif)
© WHMC-KC, University of Missouri, 1996
Up high on the back of this lovely white steed
They flew through the air in a whirlwind of speed.
On top of the world they alighted beside
A mountain that suddenly opened up wide.
And there, in the depths of a great icy hall,
They found Santa's reindeer and rescued them all.
And now, if the wolves in that country don't eat them,
They'll soon reach old Santa, who's waiting to greet them.
![](http://webpages.charter.net/pistovelf/Christmas2/Cuddles%20&%20Tuckie/7CAVE.gif)
© WHMC-KC, University of Missouri, 1996
Who found Santa's reindeer? Do I need to tell?
Why, Cuddles and Tuckie--you knew very well.
They brought back those eight tiny reindeer in time
To give the right ending to my little rhyme.
This made Santa Claus such a jolly old elf
He couldn't help laughing all over himself.
And yesterday eve, at the close of the day,
He hitched up his team and he loaded his sleigh.
![](http://webpages.charter.net/pistovelf/Christmas2/Cuddles%20&%20Tuckie/8SLEIGH.gif)
© WHMC-KC, University of Missouri, 1996
And while you were sleeping he went for a ride
With brave little Cuddles and Tuck at his side.
They helped him deliver his wonderful toys
All over the world to the girls and the boys.
Then up to their very own chimney they drew
And climbed in with Santa and slid down the flue.
And now it's all over they're glad to be here
To say "MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR."