The Night Before Christmas

'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 would soon be there

The children were all nestled and snug in their beds

Visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads

Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap

We'd just settled ourselves for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter

So I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter

Away to the window I flew like a flash

I tore open the shutters and threw up the sash

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave a lustre of mid-day to objects below

When, what to my wondering eyes did appear

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer

With a little old driver, so lively and quick

I knew in a moment that it must be St. Nick

More rapid than eagles his reindeer they came

And he whistled, and he shouted, and he called them by name

"Now, Dasher! And 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!"

So up to the house-top the reindeer they flew

With the 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 sack

His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, and his nose like a cherry!

He had a droll little mouth that was all drawn up like a bow

And his 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 little belly

That shooked 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 that I had nothing to dread

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work

And he filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk

And laying his finger along side of his nose

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose

He sprang to his sleigh, and 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

A happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!