holiday1

'Twas the night before Christmas
And all thru the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care ,
In hopes that Saint Nicholas would soon be there.
The children were nestled all snug in there beds
While visions of sugar plums all danced in their heads;
And mama 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 open the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
Gave the luster 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 he came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name

"Now Dasher! now Dancer!, now Cupid and Vixex
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!

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on a 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 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 sack.

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 round little 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, inspite of myself
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know that I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word and went straight to his work
And filled all of the stocking, and turned with a jerk
And laying his fingers aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whiste,
And away they all flew, like a down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim , ere he drove out of signt,
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863)