Account of a Visit From St. Nicholas - Watson's Historic Tales of Olden Times 1833

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1	It was the night before Christmas, when all through the house
2	Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
3	When what in the air, to my eyes should appear,
4	But a minature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer;
5	With a little old driver so lively and quick,
6	I knew in a moment, it must be Saint Nick!
7	Soon, on to the house top, his coursers, they flew,
8	With the sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas too;
9	As I roll'd on my bed and was turning around,
10	Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound!
11	He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
12	And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
13	The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
14	And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
15	He had a broad face and a little round belly,
16	That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
17	He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work:
18	Soon filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk;
19	And laying his finger aside of his nose,
20	And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
21	He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
22	And away they all flew like the down of a thistle;
23	And I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
24	"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."