‘Twas the night before Christmas at the SGR shop.
Stan was sleeving a bolt to eliminate the slop.
When up on the roof there arose such a clatter, he and Barley dog rushed to see “Whats the matter?”
There on his rooftop in the cold Westbrook night,
sat Santa’s sleigh…man, what a sight!
Santa spoke first…”Stan, I’m here for a reason.
I’m in dire straights and need help this season.”
“I’ve more stops to make than I have time for, so that’s why I stopped outside your door.
I’m putting you in charge of the shooters on my list, now don’t fail me, Stan…you don’t want Santa miffed.”
Here are the presents I want you to deliver, they’ve all got names on ’em….don’t get in a tither.
I’ve got to go, you can take it from here. Just be darn sure that those presents get there!”
“I’ll run through the list just once before I go.
If you get ’em mixed up, your in trouble, though.
I’ve given these gifts in the spririt of fun and hope they’ll brings smiles to each and everyone.”
“There’s 748 powder for our good pal Roy Oines…it stinks up the place and he uses it to annoy us.
A used Lilja barrel for Craig Nagel you’ll see…’cuz when he gets a new one he beats you and me.
For Robinett I’ve got a lifetime supply of bullet jackets…not J4’s but Sierras..and in individual packets.”
“For Dan Hackett I’ve got a .30 caliber Shilen, when he tosses that PPC tube, you know he’ll be chillin’.
Mike Bigelow gets a busted Tasco scope..he’s tough to beat and it’s our only hope.
Larry Cribbs get a reamer of an appropriate size…that 308 he shoots is a little unwise.”
“For our pal Hope Carleton, way down in Kentucky, he gets a gift that’s just pretty ducky. An endless supply of McMillan stocks…none will fit his actions, but it’s better than rocks!
Ronnie Berg gets a new golf cart for Mary, but teaching her to drive it could be sort of hairy.”
“For Peggy O’Keefe, her present causes me to brag…it’s a shiny little robot that will set all her windflags!”
Todd Nyhus has been a pain in my rear, so for him I’ve got something so very dear. It’s all of the tools to make his own brass, so his big brother Al won’t think he’s such a pain in the….backside.”
“And for you, Stan…this gift of 100 new actions, from several makers and various factions.
They all need some work and are a bit out of square…the threads are all screwed up and the lugs show some wear.
The raceways need boring ‘cuz they’re oblong right now
and the bolts fit in them like a saddle on a sow.
The hole in the boltface is too small for the pin, but with some work with a file I’m sure they’ll fit in.
God only knows if the triggers will work, but it’s one of those things…just a little quirk.”
He hopped in his sleigh and got set to leave, but Stan called out loudly to “Wait a minute, please!”
Stan ran to the shop and emerged in a bit, with a tumbler of Black Juice and this tiny hint…
“Now Santa go lightly when your drinking this stuff, it’ll make your cheeks rosy and your eyes will start to puff.
It’s best to just sip it…don’t take too much more
The last time Todd had some, he slept on my floor.”
The sleigh then took off, leaving Stan standing there…in the cold Winter night that was so bare. But the presents were evidence of Santas presence there, so the next time you see Stan, ask him…..
“Hey…where’s my stuff?????”