A Visit From St. Nicholas ('Twas The Night Before Christmas)

This is Louis Satchmo Armstrong

Talking to all the kids

From all over the world

At Christmastime

'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 sugar plums danced in their heads

And mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter

I sprang from the 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 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 to the housetop, 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 the pawing of each little hoof

As I drew 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 on 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 bowl 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 that 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 he 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

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

A very good night

And there goes your Satchmo Armstrong

Thank you