The Night Before Christmas

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 Saint Nicholas soon would be there
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of sugar plums dance in their heads
And mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap
Had just settled down for a long winters 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 minature 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 whislted, and shouted, and called them by name
"Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid! 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 Saint Nicholas too
And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little roof
As I drew in my hand and was turning around
Down the chimney Saint Nicholas was 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 slung 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 a 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 round little belly
That shook when he laughed like a bowl full 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
He filled all the stockings and 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 as he drove out of sight

"Merry Christmas to all! And to all a Good Night"

Back To  Jennyz-Christmas