'Twas the night before Christmas and Festus was blue. No money for presents. What was he to do? It did not take too long for him to decide to saddle up Ruth and go out for a ride.
He rode to the edge of the town and beyond, out onto the prairie and it wasn't long before he saw somebody stuck in the snow, so Festus went over to help, don'tcha know?
The vehicle stuck in the snow was a sleigh. The driver said, "I'm just not used to this way." The fellow was chubby and dressed all in red, a stocking cap jauntily perched on his head. His face was real jolly, his smile was bright, he chuckled a lot though it was a cold night. He said, "I'm called Kris. May I ask you your name?"
The deputy said, "Festus Haggen, and say, it seems yore in trouble. Now what can I do to help you get to where you wuz goin' to?"
Kris said, "Well, it seems that my harness is broke and if you repair it I'll fill up your poke. Ask your own price...I'll be happy to pay if only you'll help me get back on my way."
Festus looked at the harness and it wasn't clear to him why a sleigh would be pulled by reindeer, but city folks often do things that is strange to Haggens that like to roam free on the range. He fixed up the harness and then tipped his hat and said, "Now you don't got to pay me for that. It wuz a pure pleasure to help you, you see, and this ain't no night to be askin' a fee."
Kris smiled and said, "Festus, you're a good man and I want to help you, if only I can. Allow me to give you a sack from the sleigh, and now I must really dash off on my way." He called to the reindeer, "Now show what you do!" and they ran so fast that it seemed that they flew.
Festus was left in the snow all alone but his heart was light as he headed for home. He went to the Longbranch to get a free beer and found it all glowing with holiday cheer. Miss Kitty and Doc decorated a tree while Sam poured the drinks with a face full of glee. Louie was helping to hang mistletoe and Matt came in too brushing off all the snow.
The deputy went to the bar with his sack-Sam gave him a whiskey and he knocked it back. Then Doc asked, "Just where in tarnation were you?" and Festus said, "Out on the prairie and you don't got to be such a mean cranky old cuss. Just look at what I brought back home here for us."
He opened the sack and he showed it to Doc-brightly wrapped gifts peeking out of the top. Everyone took out a package and when unwrapped it was just what they had wanted then. Kitty received a real fancy new hat and there was a silver belt buckle for Matt. Sam got a silk shirt and Doc a wool coat and Louie had something to warm up his throat.
Festus passed out presents all through the night until the next day with the first morning's light. Everyone got something special that day but when he was done Doc came over to say, "Festus, there wasn't a gift there for you." Festus said, "Doc, now you know that ain't true. The gift that I wanted wuz here in this sack and this wuz a night I would never take back. I gave somethin' to all my friends and I say Merry Christmas to all in Dodge City this day!"
