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 St Nickalas
Soon would be there
The children were nestled
All snug in their bed
While vision of Sugar Plums
Danced in their heads.
Mamma in her kerchief
And I in 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 shudder
and threw up the sash
The moon on the breast
of the new fallen snow
Gave a luster of mid day
to objects below.
When what to my wondering
eyes should appear
But a minature 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 wistled and Shouted
and Called them by Name
On Dasher On Dancer
On Prancer and Vixen
On Comet On Cupid
On Donner and Blitzen
As dry leaves before
the wild hurricane fly
When they meet with an obstacle
Mount to the sky
So up to the house tops
his courses 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 Nickolas
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
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 full of jelly
He was chubby and plump
A right jolly old elf
And I laughed when I saw him
In spite of myself
But 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 hear him exclaim
Ere he drove out of sight
Merry Christmas to All
And to All a Good Night
