To all merry christmas, and to all a good night. Herh herh herh
'twas the night before christmas, when all through the house.
Stirring, not a creature was, not even a mouse;
Hung by the chimney with care, the stockings were,
In hopes that Saint there would Nicholas soon be;
Nestled all snug in their beds, the children were,
Of sugar-plums danced in their heads while visions;
And her 'kerchief mamma in, and my cap I in,
For a long winter's nap had just settled down,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
The matter, I sprang from the bed to see what was.
To the window I flew like a flash away,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
Of the new-fallen snow the moon on the breast.
To objects below gave the lustre of mid-day,
When, appear, what to my wondering eyes should,
But miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, Yessss!
With little old driver, so lively and quick,
Saint, must I knew in a moment it be! Nick!
His coursers they came more rapid than eagles,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, dasher! Now, dancer! Now, prancer and vixen!
On, comet! On cupid! On, donder 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 wild hurricane fly,
When with an obstacle they meet, to the sky mount,
So to the house-top the coursers they flew up,
With of toys the sleigh full, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof.
Of each little hoof the prancing and pawing.
As my hand I drew in, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Saint With a bound Nicholas came. Hmmmm?
Dressed all in fur, he was, to his foot from his head,
And all tarnished with ashes and soot, his clothes were;
Flung on his back, a bundle of toys he had,
And like a peddler just opening his pack he looked.
His eyes - - how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
Like roses, his cheeks were, like a cherry his nose!
Drawn up like a bow, his droll little mouth was,
And as white as the snow, the beard of his chin was;
Of a pipe he held tight in his teeth the stump,
And like a wreath the smoke it encircled his head;
Broad face and a little round belly, had he,
That shook, when of jelly he laughed like a bowlful.
Chubby and plump, he was, right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, of myself in spite! Yessss
Of his eye and a twist of his head a wink,
Nothing to dread, soon gave me to know I had;
Word he spoke not, but to his work went straight,
And filled all the stockings; then with a jerk turned,
And of his nose laying his finger aside,
And giving a nod, he rose up the chimney;
To his sleigh he sprang, to his team gave a whistle,
And of a thistle away they all flew like the down.
But I heard him exclaim, of sight ere he drove out,
"To all happy christmas, and to all a good-night." Hmmmmmm.
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