'Twas the before Christmas 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 soon be there
The children were all nestled, all snug in their beds of sugarplums danced in their heads
And momma in her and I in my cap Had just settled down for a long nap When out on the there arose such a clatter I sprang from my bed to see was the matter!
Away to the window, I flew like a Tore the shutters and threw up the sash
The moon on the breast of the new fallen the luster of midday to objects below When what to my wandering eyes should But a miniature sleigh and tiny reindeer!
With a little ol' 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 them by 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 with an obstacle mount sky So up to the the courses they flew With a sleigh full of and St. Nicholas too
And in a twinkling I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of little hoof
Ands I drew in my and was turning around Down the chimney St. Nicholas with a bound He was dressed all in fur his head to his foot 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 of his chin was as white as the snow
The stump of a pipe, he tight in his teeth And the smoke it his head like a wreath
He had a little face and a, a little round belly That shook when he laughed 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 of his head Soon gave me to I had nothing to dread
He spoke not a word but straight to his work And all the stockings, and then turned with a jerk An' laying a finger side his nose An' giving a nod up the chimney he
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team a whistle An' away all flew 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