'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 hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were all nestled snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.
Ma in her kerchief and I in my cap had just settled down for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I jumped out of bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash, threw back the curtains and tore open the sash.
When what to my wondrous eyes should appear, but a miniature 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, now Vixen , on Comet , on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen .
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wal, now dash away, dash away, dash away all.
So up to the housetop his coursers they flew, with a sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas, too.. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney he came with a 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. His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry, his cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth and the smoke encircled his head like a wreath.
He was chubby and plump a right jolly elf and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a nod of his head soon gave me reason I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stocking, 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.
And I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!".
Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas!
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