Twas the night before christmas,
   when all through the house,
   not a creature was stirring,
   not even a mouse!
  
   The stockings all hung
   by the chimney with care,
   in hopes that St. Nicholas
   soon would be there!
  
   The children were nestled
   all safe in their beds,
   while visions of sugarplums
   danced in their heads!
  
   And Mom 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 shutters
   and threw up the sash!
  
   The moon on the breast
   of the new fallen snow,
   gave the lustre of midday
   to object below!
  
   When what to my wandering eyes
   should appear,
   but a miniature sleigh
   and eight tiny reindeer!
  
   With a little ol? driver
   so lively and quick,
   I knew in a moment
   it must be St. Nick!
  
   More rapid than eagles
   his courses they came,
   as he whistled and shouted
   and called them by name:
  
   "Now Dasher,
   now Dancer,
   now Prancer,
   now Vixen,
   on Comet,
   on Cupid,
   on Doner
   an? Blitzen!"
  
   To the top of the porch,
   to the top of the wall,
   now dash-away, dash-away,
   dash-away all!
  
   As dry leaves
   before the wild hurricane fly,
   when they meet with an obstacle
   mount to the sky.
  
   So, up to the housetop
   the courses they flew,
   with a 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 drawl little mouth
   was drawn up like a bow,
   and the beard of his chin
   was a white as the snow!
  
   The stump of his 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,
   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!
  
   An? laying a finger
   along side his nose,
   an? giving a nod,
   up the chimney he rose!
  
   He sprang to his sleigh,
   to his team gave a whistle,
   an? away they all flew
   like the down of a thistle.
  
   But I heard him exclaim
   as he drove out of sight,
   "Happy Christmas to All,
   and to All a Goodnight!"
  
   Hmmm