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 the hopes that St Nicholas
would soon be there
The children were nestled
all snug in their beds
While visions of sugar plums
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 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 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 house top the coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of toys and St Nicholas too
And then in a twinkle 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 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 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 the beard of his chin
was as 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 bowlful 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 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 the down of a thistle
But I heard him exclaim 'ere he drove out of sight
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night