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| 1 | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, |
| 2 | Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; |
| 3 | The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, |
| 4 | In hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there. |
| 5 | The children were nestled all snug in their beds. |
| 6 | While visions of sugar plumbs danc'd in their heads, |
| 7 | And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, |
| 8 | Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap- |
| 9 | When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, |
| 10 | I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter; |
| 11 | Away to the window I flew like a flash, |
| 12 | Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash. |
| 13 | The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow, |
| 14 | Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below; |
| 15 | When what to my wondering eyes should appear, |
| 16 | But a minature sleigh, and eight tiny red deer, |
| 17 | With a little old driver so lively and quick, |
| 18 | I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick, |
| 19 | More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, |
| 20 | And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; |
| 21 | "Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer and Vixen, |
| 22 | "On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem; |
| 23 | "To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! |
| 24 | "Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" |
| 25 | As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, |
| 26 | When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; |
| 27 | So up to the house top the coursers they flew, |
| 28 | With the sleigh full of toys - and St. Nicholas too. |
| 29 | And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof |
| 30 | The prancing and pawing of each little hoof; |
| 31 | As I drew in my head, and was turning around, |
| 32 | Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. |
| 33 | He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, |
| 34 | And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot; |
| 35 | A bundle of toys was flung on his back, |
| 36 | And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack; |
| 37 | His eyes - how they twinkled, his dimples how merry, |
| 38 | His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry: |
| 39 | His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, |
| 40 | And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; |
| 41 | The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, |
| 42 | And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. |
| 43 | He had a broad face and a little round belly, |
| 44 | That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. |
| 45 | He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, |
| 46 | And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself; |
| 47 | A wink of his eye and a twist of his head |
| 48 | Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread! |
| 49 | He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work. |
| 50 | And fill'd all the stockings; then turned with a |
| 50 | [NEWSPAPER FOLD jerk, |
| 51 | And laying his finger aside of his nose] |
| 52 | And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. |
| 53 | He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, |
| 54 | And away they all flew like the down of a thistle: |
| 55 | But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight, |
| 56 | "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night." |
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Mary S. Van Deusen Copyright © 2003, InterMedia Enterprises |
