'Twas the night before and all through the house Not a was stirring, not even a mouse The stockings were hung by, the chimney with care in that St. Nicholas would soon be
The children all nestled, all snug in their beds while Visions of sugarplums in their heads
And in her kerchief and I in my cap Had settled down for a long winter's nap When out on the lawn there arose such a I sprang my bed to see what was the matter!
Away to the window, I like a flash Tore open the shutters and threw up the
The on the breast of the new fallen snow Gave the luster of midday to below When what to my wandering eyes appear But a miniature sleigh and eight reindeer!
With a little ol' driver so lively and I knew in a moment, it be St. Nick!
rapid than eagles, his courses they came As he and shouted and called them 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 that before the wild fly When they meet an obstacle mount sky So up to the housetop the they flew With a sleigh full of and St. Nicholas too
And then in a I heard on the roof The prancing and of each little hoof
Ands I drew in my head and was around Down the chimney St. Nicholas came a bound He was dressed all in fur from his head to his And his clothes were all with ashes and soot
A bundle of toys, he on his back And he looked like a, a peddler opening his pack
His eyes how they twinkled, his how merry His cheeks like roses, his nose like a cherry His drawl little 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 little 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 jolly old elf I laughed when I saw him in of myself
A wink of his eye and a of his head Soon me to know I had nothing to dread
He not a word but went straight to his work And filled all the stockings, and then turned a jerk An' a finger aside side his nose An' giving a nod up the he rose
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team a whistle An' away they all like the down of a thistle
But I heard him exclaim as he out of sight Merry to all, Merry Christmas to all And to all a