Revisions to the electronic version
December, 1999 corrector Matthew Gibson, The Electronic Text Center
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Santa Claus'sVisit.
A Visit From St.Nicholas.
A Present for Good Little Boys andGirls.
The Night Before Christmas
By
Clement Moore
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.
1: 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
2: Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
3: The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
4: In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
5: The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
6: While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
7: And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
8: Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap;
9: When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
10: I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
11: Away to the window I flew like a flash,
12: Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
13: The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
14: Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
15: When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
16: But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
17: With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
18: I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
19: More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
20: And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
21: "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
22: On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
23: To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
24: Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
25: As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
26: When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
27: So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
28: With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
29: And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
30: The prancing and pawing of each little hoof --
31: As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
32: Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
33: He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
34: And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
35: A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
36: And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack.
37: His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
38: His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
39: His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
40: And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
41: The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
42: And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
43: He had a broad face and a little round belly,
44: That shook when he laughed, like a bowlfull of jelly.
45: He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
46: And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
47: A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
48: Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
49: He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
50: And fill'd all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
51: And laying his finger aside of his nose,
52: And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
53: He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
54: And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
55: But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
56: "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."
