 | THE NIGHT BEFORE
CHRISTMAS
‘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 snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums
Danced in their heads; |
 | AND Mamma in her kerchief
And I in my cap,
Had just settled our heads
For a long winter's nap— |
 | WHEN out on the lawn
There rose 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 a lustre of mid-day
To objects below; |
 | 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 coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted,
And called them by name— |
 |
"NOW Dasher! now Dancer!
Now Prancer! and Vixen!
On Comet! on Cupid!
On Dunder! and Blitzen! |
 | "TO the top of the porch!
To the top of the wall!
Now, dash away, 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 coursers they flew,
With 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 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. |
 | 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 heard him exclaim
Ere he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all,
And to all a Good Night!" |
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