THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

T’was the night before Christmas, and all throught the house,

not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The childrenwere nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the sutters 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 wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature slieigh 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, Now 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 bfore the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet wtih an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the courses 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 around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

 

He was dressed all in fut 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 pedlar 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 a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath,

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 exclain, ere he drove out of sight,

“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night”.

 

THE  WONDERFUL POEM “THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS”  BY CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE  OR  HENRY  LIVINGSTON

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