'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.
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 big blue box, and a man who looked queer.
With a tall young driver, so lively and slick,
I knew in a moment 'it cant be St Nick!'
More rapid than eagles his calls, how they came,
As he whistled, and shouted, and called me by name!
"Now Clara, dear Clara, times been a mixin' !
"Wont you come meet president Lincoln?"
Oh how weird it was, I didnt know him at all!
Now go away, dash away man so tall"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
He went to the house-top, the man, he flew!
Mother warned me of boys, did he count too?
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of an idiotic goof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney he came with a bound.
He was dressed all in a suit, from his head to his foot,
Clothes all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of joy, he had taken me aback,
And he looked like a medlar, I was ready to attack.
But his eyes-how they twinkled! he looked so very merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His lovely little tie was drawn up like a bow,
Oh and that hat that he wore, a type I dont know.
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 was just a little smelly,
Then started talking of food, 'I want a bowlful of jelly!'
'You'll go chubby and plump! You'll spoil yourself!',
Yet 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.
But then he spoke not a word and went straight to his work,
scanning the room, 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 box, to the air gave a whistle,
And away they 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!"