"A Visit From Santa@north.pole.brr.edu" By Jani Farlow Spede, et.al., Assistant Editor, Northeast Regional Data Center, University of Florida (JSPEDE@NERVM or JSPEDE@NERVM.NERDC.UFL.EDU). This article appeared in "/Update," Volume 19, Number 12, December 1991. 'Twas the night before Christmas the network was clogged, not a server was sending not a user was logged. Each mailbox was open by userids with care, in hopes that the mail soon would be there. The users were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of files spooled in their heads. When out near the ethernet there came such a clatter, I sprang from my workstation to see what was the matter. And what to my eyes should virtually appear, but the Wizard of Nets with networks of cheer. More rapid than lasers his helpers they came, he whistled and shouted and called them by name. "Help Internet! Help Bitnet! Help Fido and Usenet! Help Suranet! Help Span! Help UFnet and Arpanet!" "All the good users must get their mail, so route away, route away, headers prevail!" The little old mailer with a lively names set, I knew in a moment it must be St. Net. And then in a twinkling the "on" light was glowing, the system was up and the mail flowing. He spoke not a word but went straight to his work, he filled every box then turned with a jerk. He sprang from his account with the logoff command, and out flew the e-mail through the cables of netland. And I heard him exclaim as he rode through the sites, Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!"