The Night Before Christmas
by Clement C. Moore @ 1950

"Twas the night before Christmas,
when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by
the chimmey with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas
soon would be there.

The children were nestled
all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums
danced in their heads.

And mamma in her kerchief,
and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for
a long winter's 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 of midday
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 it must
be St. Nick.

More rapid than 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 ! On,
Donder 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 that before the wild
hurricane fly,
When they meet with an
obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the housetop the
coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys---
and St. Nicholas, too.
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 chimmey 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 bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump---
a right 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 chimmey he rose !

He sprang to his sleigh,
to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew
like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim,
ere he drove out of sight;
"Happy Christmas to all,
And to all a good night ! "