The Night Before Christmas ("A Visit from St. Nicholas") written in December, 1822 by Clement C. Moore

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 nestled all snug in their beds

While visions of sugarplums 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 my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters and through up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow

Gave the lustre of midday to objects below

When what to my wondering eye 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 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 housetop, the coursers, they flew,

With a 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 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 bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plum, 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 a 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!"