'Twas the night before and all through the house Not a was stirring, not even a mouse The stockings were by, the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be
The children were all nestled, all snug in their beds Visions of sugarplums in their heads
And in her kerchief and I in my cap Had just settled down for a winter's nap When out on the lawn there arose such a I sprang my bed to see what was the matter!
to the window, I flew like a flash Tore open the shutters and threw up the
The on the breast of the new fallen snow Gave the luster of to objects below what to my wandering eyes should appear But a miniature sleigh and eight reindeer!
With a ol' driver so lively and quick I knew in a moment, it be St. Nick!
More rapid than eagles, his courses they As he whistled and shouted and called by name Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and On Comet, on Doner, an'
To the top of the porch, to the top of the Now dash-away, all
And as dry leaves before the wild hurricanes fly When they meet with an obstacle sky So up to the housetop the they flew a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too
And then in a twinkling I on the roof The prancing and of each little hoof
Ands I drew in my head and was turning Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a He was dressed all in fur his head to his foot And his clothes were all tarnished with and soot
A of toys, he sprung on his back And he looked like a, a just opening his pack
His how they twinkled, his dimples how merry His cheeks were like roses, his like a cherry His drawl little was drawn up like a bow And the beard of his chin was as white as the
The stump of a pipe, he held tight in his And the smoke it circled his head a wreath
He had a broad little and a, a little round belly shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly He was chubby and plump, and a, a jolly old elf I laughed I saw him in spite of myself
A wink of his eye and a twist of his Soon gave me to know I had to dread
He spoke not a word but went to his work And filled all the stockings, and then turned with a An' laying a finger aside his nose An' giving a nod up the chimney he
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a An' away they all flew the down of a thistle
But I him exclaim as he drove out of sight Christmas to all, Merry Christmas to all And to all a