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 plumbs Danced in their heads. And Mama in her kerchief, And I in my cap Had just settled our brains For a long winter's nap When out on the roof There arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed To see what was the matter. I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutter, And through back the sash. The moon on the breast Of the new fallen snow Gave the luster of midday To the objects below, When, what to my wandering 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 courses they came, And he whistles and shouted And called then be name: NOW DASHER! NOW DANCER! NOW PRANCER AND VIXON! ON COMET! ON CUPID! ON DONNER AND BLITZEN! To The Top Of The Stairs! To The Top Of The Wall! Now 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 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 ands 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 bowl 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 sprang to his sleigh, To his team gave a whistle, And away they all fly 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! _______________________________