'Twas The Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In the hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads
Mom in her 'kerchief and I in my cap
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap

When out on the lawn there rose 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 shutters and threw up the sash
The moon on the breast of a new-fallen snow
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer

With a little old driver, so lively and quick
Well, I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick
More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came
And he whistled and shouted and he called them by name

"On, Dasher, on, Dancer
On, Prancer, on, Vixen
On, Comet, on, Cupid
On, Donner and Blitzen
To the top of the porch
Top of the wall
Now dash away, dash away
Dash away all"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
When they meet to an obstacle mount to the sky
So up to the rooftop of the courses they flew
With a sleigh full of toys and saint Nicholas too

Then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing, the pawing of each little hoof
As I drew in my head and was turning around
Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound

He was dressed in all furs 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 in a bow
And the beard on his chin was as 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 bowl full 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 he filled all the stockings and then turned with a jerk
And laying a finger to the side of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose
He sprang to his sleigh and to his team gave a whistle
And away they flew like the down of a thistle
But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all, good night"
Good night