'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
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not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
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The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
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in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
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The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
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while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
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And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
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had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.
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When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
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I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
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Away to the window I flew like a flash,
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tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.
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The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
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gave the lustre of midday to objects below,
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when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
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but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
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With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
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I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
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More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came,
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and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
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"Now Dasher! Now Dancer!
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Now, Prancer and Vixen!
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On, Comet! On, Cupid!
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On, Donner and Blitzen!
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To the top of the porch!
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To the top of the wall!
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Now dash away! Dash away!
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Dash away all!"
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As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
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when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
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so up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
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with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
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And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
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the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
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As I drew in my head and was turning around,
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down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
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He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
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and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
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A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
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and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
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His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
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His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
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His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
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and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
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The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
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and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
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He had a broad face and a little round belly,
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that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
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He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
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and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
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A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
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soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
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He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
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and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
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And laying his finger aside of his nose,
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and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
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He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
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And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
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But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
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"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
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The Night Before Christmas
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| Bright Eyes |
