Twas The Night Before Christmas
By: Clement C. Moore / 1822
- '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 St. Nicholas soon would be there;
- The children were nestled all snug in their beds. While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads;
- And Mamma in her kercheif ,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 up 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 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 coursers 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, Donder 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 on a housetop the coursers they flew, with a sleigh full of toys, and St. 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 St. Nicholas came with a bound.
- He was all dressed in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
- A bundle of toys he had flung 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 his beard on his chin was white as the snow;
- The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;
- 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 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; and turned with a jerk.
- And laying a finger on the side of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
- He sprang to his sleigh, to his team he 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, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
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