'Twas the night before Christmas and all the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a The stockings were hung by, the chimney with care in hopes St. Nicholas would be there
The children all nestled, all snug in their beds while Visions of sugarplums danced in heads
And in her kerchief and I in my cap Had just settled down for a long nap When out on the lawn arose such a clatter I sprang my bed to see what was the matter!
to the window, I flew like a flash Tore open the shutters and up the sash
The moon on the of the new fallen snow Gave the of midday to objects below When what to my wandering eyes should But a miniature sleigh and eight reindeer!
With a little ol' so lively and quick I in a moment, it must be St. Nick!
More rapid than eagles, his courses they As he and shouted and called them by name Now Dasher, now Dancer, now and Vixen On Comet, on Doner, an'
To the top of the porch, to the top of the Now dash-away, all
And as dry leaves that before the hurricanes fly When they with an obstacle mount sky So up to the the courses they flew a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too
And then in a I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each hoof
I drew in my head and was turning around Down the chimney St. Nicholas came a bound He was dressed all in fur his head to his foot And his clothes were all tarnished ashes and soot
A bundle of toys, he on his back And he looked like a, a just opening his pack
His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a His drawl mouth was drawn up like a bow And the beard of his chin was as as the snow
The stump of a pipe, he held tight in his And the it circled his head like a wreath
He had a broad face and a, a little round belly That shook when he like a bowl full of jelly He was chubby and plump, and a, a right 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 with a jerk An' laying a finger aside his nose An' giving a nod up the chimney he
He to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle An' away they all flew like the down of a
But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of Christmas to all, Merry Christmas to all And to all a