'Twas the night before Christmas and all the house Not a creature was stirring, not a mouse The stockings were by, the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas would be there
The children all nestled, all snug in their beds while of sugarplums danced in their heads
And momma in her and I in my cap Had just down for a long winter's nap When out on the lawn arose such a clatter I sprang my bed to see what was the matter!
Away to the window, I flew like a open the shutters and threw up the sash
The on the breast of the new fallen snow the luster of midday to objects below When what to my wandering eyes should 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 came 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 that the wild hurricanes fly When meet with an obstacle mount sky So up to the the courses they flew With a sleigh full of toys and St. too
And then in a twinkling I heard on the The and pawing of each little hoof
I drew in my head and was turning around Down the St. Nicholas came with a bound He was dressed all in fur from his to his foot And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and
A bundle of toys, he sprung on his And he looked a, a peddler just opening his pack
His eyes how they twinkled, his how merry 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 stump of a pipe, he held tight in his And the it circled his head like a wreath
He had a broad little face and a, a little round That shook he laughed 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 of his head gave me to know I had nothing to dread
He spoke not a word but straight to his work And filled all the stockings, and then turned a jerk An' laying a finger side his nose An' giving a nod up the chimney he
He sprang to his sleigh, to his gave a whistle An' away they all flew like the down of a
But I heard him exclaim as he out of sight Merry to all, Merry Christmas to all And to all a