¡®twas the night before christmas,

When all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring,

Not even a mouse!



The stockings all hung

By the chimney with care,

In hopes that st. nicholas

Soon would be there!



The children were nestled

All safe in their beds,

While visions of sugarplums

Danced in their heads!



And mom 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 lustre of midday

To object below!



When what to my wandering eyes

Should appear,

But a miniature sleigh

And eight tiny reindeer!



With a little ol' driver

So lively and quick,

I knew in a moment

It must be st. nick!



More rapid than eagles

His courses they came,

As he whistled and shouted

And called them by name:



"now dasher,

Now dancer,

Now prancer,

Now vixen,

On comet,

On cupid,

On doner

An' blitzen!"



To the top of the porch,

To the top of the wall,

Now dash-away, dash-away,

Dash-away all!



As dry leaves

Before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle

Mount to the sky.



So, up to the housetop

The courses 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 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 drawl little mouth

Was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin

Was a white as the snow!



The stump of his pipe

He held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head

Like a wreath!



He had a broad face

And a round little belly,

That shook when he laughed

Like a bowl full of jelly!



He was chubby and plump,

A right jolly old elf,

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!



An' laying a finger

Along side his nose,

An' giving a nod,

Up the chimney he rose!



He sprang to his sleigh,

To his team gave a whistle,

An' 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 goodnight!"



Hmmm


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