'Twas 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
soon would be there

The children were nestled
all snug in their beds
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads

And mamma 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 lustre of mid-day
to objects below

When, what to my
wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh
and eight tinny 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, on Donner 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 house-top
the coursers 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 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 of 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 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
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 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!"