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