Night before Christmas
Clement Clarke Moore (1799 - 1863)
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 chimney
with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be
there.
The children were nestled all snug in
their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums 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 the 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 the lustre of mid-day to objects
below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should
appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny
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,
on 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 that before the wild
hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount
to the sky.
So up to the house-top 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 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 of 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 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.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove
out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a
good-night!"
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