|
The Night Before
Christmas (or A Visit From Saint Nick) |
By
Clement C. Moore |
|
| '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 our brains 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 rein-deer, |
| 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, 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 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 head, 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 look'd like a pedlar 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
bowlfull 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 fill'd all the stockings; then
turned with a jerk, |
Merry
Christmas |
| 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." |
|
|
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