| Twas The Night Before Christmas By Clement C. Moore |
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| '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 Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled, all snug in their beds; while vision of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap; had just settled down for a long winters 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; torn open the shutter and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow; gave a luster of midday 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 St. Nick. More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came; he whistled and shouted and called them by name. "Now Dasher! now Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen! On Comet! on Cupid, on Donder and Blizten! 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; they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew; with a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too. Then in the 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 he came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot; 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 the 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 snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth; 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 ol' elf; and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself. A wink of his eye, 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; filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose; 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 thistle. I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight; "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!" |
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