T 'was 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 snuggled in beds
While visions of sugarplums
danced in their heads
Then Mama and her kerchief
and I and 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.
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 horses they came,
And he whistled and he shouted
and he called them by name,
Now Dasher, now Dancer,
now Prancer and Vixen,
I've gone without you but I'm
down and blitzen,
The top of the fort to the top of the wall,
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all.
So up to the housetop
the horses they flew
With a sleigh full of toys
and St. Nick's for stew
And then on a twinkling
I heard on the roof
The prance again pawing up each little hoof
As I drew in my head was
turnin' around
Down the chimney
St. Nick came with the bound
He dressed all in fur
from his head to his foot
Clothes were all covered
with ashes and soot
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back
And he looked like a petal
just openin' his pack
His eyes how they twinkled,
his dimples how merry
His cheeks were like roses,
his nose like a cherry
His golden 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 in his circle,
his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face
and a little round belly,
that shook when he laughed
like a bowl full of jelly.
He's chubby and plump,
a right jolly old elf,
and I laughed when I saw him,
in spite of myself.
He spoke not a word,
but went straight to his work,
and filled all the stockings,
and turned with a jerk.
Crazy, and layin' his
finger aside off his nose,
and givin' a nod up the
chimney he rose.
He sprang to a sleigh,
to his theme gave a whistle,
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.