t'was the night before hearthwarming,
and all through the castle, not a creature was stiring
not even a mouse.
the hearth warming dolls were hung by the fire with care,
in hopes that st. nicolas soon will be there.
the princess was all nesled all snug in her bed,
while visions of chocolate cake danced in her head.
and Tia in her kerchief and I in my my post, had settled down for a long winter's most.
when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my post to see what was the matter.
away to the door I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
my moon on the chest of the new fallen snow,
gave a luster of midday to objects bellow.
when what to my wondering eyes did appear,
a miniature sleigh,
and eight tiny reigndeer.
with a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment,
it must be .
more rapid than eagle their courses they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"Now Dasher, now dancer, now prance and vixen, on comet, on cupid,on donner 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 a obstacle, mount to the sky.
so up to the housetop the courses they flew, with a sleigh full of toys, and too.
and then, in a twinkle, I hear on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
as I drew in my head and was turning around, down the hearth, came with a bound.
he was dressed all in fluff, from her head to her hoof and her cloths were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
a bundle of toys she had flung on her back and she looked like a peddler just opening her pack.
her eyes how they twinkled,
her dimples,how merry.
her cheeks were like roses, and her nose like a cherry.
her true little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and her teeth in her smile was as white as the snow.
the stump of a candy cane she held in her teeth'
and her hair encircled her head like a wreath.
She had a pink face and a little round bell, that shook when she laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
she was silly and light, a right jolly ol' elf, and I laughed when I saw 'em, in spit of myself.
A wink of the eye and I nod of head soon gave me to know
I have nothing to dread.
she spoke not a word but went straight to the work, and filled all the stockings and turned with a jerk.
the putting her hoof aside of her nose, and giving a nod,
up the chimney she rose.
She sprang to the sleigh, and to her team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard her exclaim as she flew out of sight "Happy hearthwarming to all and to all a good night!"
