T'was the night before Christmas
when all through the house
not a creature was stirring
not even a mouse
The stockings were hung
by the chimney with care
in hopes that St Nicholas soon
would be there
The children were nestled
all snug in their beds
while visions of sugar plums
danced in their heads
And mama in her kerchief
and I in my cap
had just settled our brains for
a long winters nap
When out on the lawn
there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed to see what
was the matter
Away to the window
I flew like a flash
tore open the windows and
threw up the sash
The moon on the breast of
the new fallen snow
gave the lustre of midday
to objects below
when what to my wandering eyes
should appear but a minuter
sleigh and eight tiny reindeer
with a little old driver
so lively and quick I
knew in a moment it
must be St Nick
More rapid than eagles
his coursers they came
and he whistled and shouted
and called them by name
"now Dasher ! now Dancer!
now Prancer and Vixen!
on Comet! on Cupid! on Donner and Blitzen!
to the top of the porch to the top
of the wall
now dash away dash away dash away all"
As dry leaves that before
the hurricane fly
when they meet with an
obstacle mount to the sky
so up to the house top
the coursers they flew
with the sleigh full of toys
and St Nicholas too
and then in a twinkling
I heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing of
each tiny hoof
as I drew in my head and
was turning round
down the chimney
St Nicholas
came with bound
He was dressed all in fur
from his head to his foot
and his clothes were
all tarnished with
ashes and soot
a bundle of toys
he had flung on his back
and he looked like a peddler
just opening his pack
His eyes how they twinkled
his dimples how merry
his cheeks were like roses
his nose like a cherry
his droll little mouth
was drawn up
like a bow
and the beard of
his chin
was a white as the snow
the stump of his pipe he
held tight in his teeth
and the smoke it
encircled his head
like a wreath
he had a broad face
and a little round belly
that shook when he laughed
like a bowlful of jelly
he was chubby and plump
a right jolly old elf
and I laughed when I saw him
in spite of myself
A wink of his eye
and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know
I had nothing to dread
He spoke not a word
but went straight to his work
and filled all the stockings
then turned with a jerk
and laying his finger
aside of his nose
and giving a nod
up the chimney he rose
He sprang to his sleigh
to his team gave
a whistle
and away they all flew
like the down of a thistle
but I heard him exclaim
'ere he drove out of sight

Happy Christmas To All

And To All

A Good Night