| THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS ‘T WAS the night before Christmas, When all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, Not even a mouse; |
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THE stockings were hung By the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas Soon would be there; |
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THE children were nestled All snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums Danced in their heads; |
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AND Mamma in her kerchief And I in my cap, Had just settled our heads For a long winter's nap— |
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WHEN out on the lawn There rose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed To see what was the matter; |
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AWAY to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters And threw up the sash. |
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THE moon, on the breast Of the new-fallen snow, Gave a lustre of mid-day To objects below; |
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WHEN what to my wondering Eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, And eight tiny Reindeer; |
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WITH a little old driver, So lively and quick, I knew in a moment It must be St. Nick. |
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MORE rapid than eagles His coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, And called them by name— |
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"NOW Dasher! now Dancer! Now Prancer! and Vixen! On Comet! on Cupid! On Dunder! and Blitzen! |
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"TO the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now, dash away, dash away, Dash away, all!" |
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AS dry leaves that before The wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, Mount to the sky; |
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SO, up to the house-top The coursers they flew, With sleigh full of toys And St. Nicholas too. |
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AND then in a twinkling I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing Of each little hoof; |
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AS I drew in my head, And was turning around, Down the chimney. St. Nicholas Came with a bound. |
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HE was dressed all in fur From his head to his foot; And his clothes were all tarnished With ashes and soot; |
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A BUNDLE of toys He had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler Just opening his pack; |
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HIS eyes how they twinkled! His dimples how merry, His cheeks were like roses, His nose like a cherry; |
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HIS droll little mouth Was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin Was as white as the snow! |
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THE stump of a pipe He held tight in his teeth, And the smoke, it encircled His head like a wreath. |
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HE had a broad face, And a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, Like a bowl-full of jelly. |
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HE was chubby and plump, A right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, In spite of myself. |
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A WINK of his eye, And a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. |
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HE spoke not a word, But went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, Then turned with a jerk, |
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AND laying his finger Aside of his nose, And giving a nod, Up the chimney he rose |
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HE sprang to his sleigh, To his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew, Like the down of a thistle; |
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BUT I heard him exclaim Ere he drove out of sight, "Merry Christmas to all, And to all a Good Night!" |
