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 mamma in her a¢æ?kerchief, and I in my cap,
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Had just settled our brains for a long wintera¢æ¢âs nap.
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When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
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I sprang from the 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 shutters 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 mid-day 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 tinny 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! now, Prancer and Vixen!
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On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
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To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
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Now dash away! Dash away! 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 of 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 bowlful 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, a¢æ?ere he drove out of sight,
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"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
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T'was The Night Before Christmas
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| Family Force 5 |
