'Twas 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 mamma 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 sprang from
the 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 the new-fallen snow gave the lustre of
mid-day 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, 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 wild 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 little hoof. As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
down the chimney St. Nicholas 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 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 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 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!"
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our
family to yours.
Brad, and Brielle