It was 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 St. Nicholas soon
would be there.
The children were nestled all snug
in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced
in their heads;
And Mama in her kerchief and I
in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long
winter's 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
up the sash.
The moon on the breast of
the new fallen snow,
Gave the luster of midday to objects
below,
When what to my wondering eyes
should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight
tiny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively
and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St.
Nick.
More rapid than eagles his reindeer
they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and
called them by name:
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer!, Now
Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid!, On, Donner
and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the
top of the wall!
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 housetop the reindeer
they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys, and
St. Nicholas, too.
And then in a twinkling, I heard
on the roof,
The prancing of reindeer and pawing
of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning
around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came
with a bound.
.......
He was dressed all in fur, from
his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished
with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had fling on
his back,
And he looked like a peddler just
opening his pack.
His eyes how they twinkled! His
dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his
nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn
up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as
white as the snow;
He had a broad face and a little
round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like
a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right
jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in
spite of myself.
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 a 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 the
down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim as he drove
out of sight,
" Merry Christmas to all, and to
all a good night!"