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| 1 | 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house |
| 2 | Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; |
| 3 | The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, |
| 4 | In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; |
| 5 | The children were nestled all snug in their beds, |
| 6 | While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; |
| 7 | And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, |
| 8 | Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; |
| 9 | When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, |
| 10 | I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. |
| 11 | Away to the window I flew like a flash, |
| 12 | Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. |
| 13 | The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, |
| 14 | Gave the lustre of midday to objects below, |
| 15 | When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, |
| 16 | But a minature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer, |
| 17 | With a little old driver, so lively and quick, |
| 18 | I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. |
| 19 | More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, |
| 20 | And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; |
| 21 | "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
|
| 22 | On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
|
| 23 | To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! |
| 24 | Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" |
| 25 | As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, |
| 26 | When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; |
| 27 | So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, |
| 28 | With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too. |
| 29 | And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, |
| 30 | The prancing and pawing of each little hoof-- |
| 31 | As I drew in my head, and was turning around, |
| 32 | Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. |
| 33 | He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, |
| 34 | And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; |
| 35 | A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, |
| 36 | And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack. |
| 37 | His eyes--how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! |
| 38 | His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! |
| 39 | His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, |
| 40 | And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. |
| 41 | The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, |
| 42 | And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; |
| 43 | He had a broad face and a little round belly, |
| 44 | That shook when he laughed, like a bowlfull of jelly. |
| 45 | He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, |
| 46 | And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; |
| 47 | A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, |
| 48 | Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; |
| 49 | He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, |
| 50 | And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, |
| 51 | And laying his finger aside of his nose, |
| 52 | And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; |
| 53 | He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, |
| 54 | And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. |
| 55 | But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, |
| 56 | "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night." |
