'Twas The Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas
And 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 Saint Nicholas
Soon would be there
The children were nestled
All snug in their beds
While visions of sugarplums
Danced in their heads
And Mama in her kerchief
And Papa in his 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 luster of midday
To objects below
When what to my wondering
Eye 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 Saint 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 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 housetop the coursers they flew
With a sleigh full of toys and Saint 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 Saint 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
A 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 round little belly
That shook when he laughed
Like a bowl full 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