Author: Clement C. Moore


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,

Would soon be there.



The children were nestled,

All snug in threir beds,

While visions of sugarplums,

danced in their heads.

And ma in her keirchief,

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,

Tore open the shutters,

And threw up the sash.



The moon on the breast,

of the new fallen snow,

Gave a luster,

To the 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,

That it must be St. Nick.



More rapid then 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, Donner, 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 before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle,

Mount for the sky



So up to the housetop the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full pf toys,

And St. Nicholas to!



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 jolly and plump, a might 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.



And I heard him exclaim,

As he drove out of site...

Merry Christmas to all,

And to all a good night!!!