'Twas the night before and all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not a mouse The stockings were hung by, the chimney with in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be
The children were all nestled, all snug in their while Visions of sugarplums danced in heads
And in her kerchief and I in my cap Had just 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 objects what to my wandering eyes should appear But a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer!
a little ol' driver 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 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 that before the wild hurricanes fly When they meet with an mount sky So up to the the courses they flew With a sleigh 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 around Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a He was dressed all in fur from his head to his And his were all tarnished with ashes and soot
A bundle of toys, he sprung on his And he looked a, a peddler just opening his pack
His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how His cheeks like roses, his nose like a cherry His little mouth was drawn up like a bow And the beard of his chin was as as the snow
The of a pipe, he held tight in his teeth And the smoke it circled his head a wreath
He had a broad face and a, a little round belly That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of He was and plump, and a, a right jolly old elf I when I saw him in spite of myself
A wink of his eye and a of his head Soon gave me to I had nothing to dread
He not a word but went straight to his work And filled all the stockings, and turned with a jerk An' laying a finger aside his nose An' a nod up the chimney he rose
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team 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