"TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS WHEN ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE

NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING NOT EVEN A MOUSE.

THE STOCKINGS WERE HUNG BY THE CHIMNEY WITH CARE

IN HOPES THAT SAINT NICHOLAS SOON BE THERE.

THE CHILDREN WERE NESTLED ALL SNUG IN THEIR BEDS,

WHILE VISIONS OF SUGARPLUMS DANCED IN THEIR HEADS

AND MOMMA IN HER KERCHIEF AND I IN MY CAP

HAD JUST SETTLED DOWN FOR A LONG WINTERS NAP,

WHEN OUT ON THE LAWN THERE AROSE SUCH A CLATTER,

I SPRANG FROM MY BED TO SEE WHAT WAS THE MATTER.

AWAY TO THE WINDOW I FLEW LIKE A FLASH,

TORE OPEN THE SHUTTERS AND THREW BACK THE SASH.

THE MOON ON THE BREAST OF THE NEW FALLEN SNOW

GAVE A LUSTER OF MIDDAY TO OBJECTS BELOW.

WHEN WHAT TO MY WONDERING EYES SHOULD APPEAR...

BUT A MINITURE SLEIGH AND EIGHT TINY REINDEER,

WITH A LITTLE OLD DRIVER SO LIVELY AND QUICK,

I KNEW IN A MOMENT IT MUST BE SAINT NICK.

MORE RAPID THAN EAGLES HIS COURSES THEY CAME,

AND WHISTLED AND SHOUTED AND CALLED THEM BY NAME:

"NOW DASHER! NOW, DANCER! NOW PRANCER AND VIXEN!

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 HOUETOP THE COURSES THEY FLEW

WITH A SLEIGH FULL OF TOYS AND SAINT NICHOLAS TOO.

AND THEN IN A TWINKLING I HEARD ON THE ROOF

THE PRANCING AND PAWING OF EACH LITTLE HOOF.

AS I DREW IN MY HEAD AND WAS TURNING AROUND....

DOWN THE CHIMNEY SAINT NICHOLAS CAME WITH A BOUND.

HE WAS DRESSES ALL IN FUR FROM HIS HEAD TO HIS FOOT,

AND HIS CLOTHES WERE ALL TARNISHED WITH ASHES AND SOOT.

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 FILLED ALL THE STOCKINGS; THEN TURNED WITH A JERK,

AND LAYING HIS FINGER ASIDE OF HIS NOSE,

AND GIVING A NOD, UP THE CHIMNEY HE ROSE.

HE SPRANG TO HIS SLEIGH, TO HIS TEAM GAVE A WHISTLE,

AND AWAY THEY ALL FLEW LIKE A DOWN OF A THISTLE.

BUT I HEARD HIM EXCLAIM AS HE DROVE OUT OF SIGHT,

"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!"