MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL, A GOOD-NIGHT..

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 down 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 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, 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 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 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 bowlful 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 filled all the stockings; 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 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!"

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS ‘T WAS 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 heads For a long winter's nap—
	WHEN out on the lawn There rose 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 threw up the sash.
	THE moon, on the breast Of the new-fallen snow, Gave a lustre of mid-day To objects below;
	WHEN what to my wondering Eyes 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 Dunder! 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 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 on 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 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 filled all the stockings, 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 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, "Merry Christmas to all, And to all a Good Night!"

Twas the Night Before Christmas

For Bikers
Unknown

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the pad, There was nada happenin', now thats pretty bad. The woodstove was hung up in that stocking routine, In hopes that the Fat Boy would soon make the scene. With our stomachs packed with tacos and beer, My girl and I crashed on the couch for some cheer. When out in the yard there arose such a racket, I ran for the door and pulled on my jacket. I saw a large bro' on a '56 Pan Wearin' black leathers, a cap, and boots (cool biker, man). He hauled up the bars on that bikeful of sacks, And that Pan hit the roof like it was running on tracks. I couldn't help gawking, the old guy had class. But I had to go in -- I was freezing my ass. Down through the stovepipe he fell with a crash, And out of the stove he came dragging his stash. With a smile and some glee he passed out the loot, A new jacket for her and some parts for my scoot. He patted her fanny and shook my right hand, Spun on his heel and up the stovepipe he ran. From up on the roof came a great deal of thunder, As that massive V-twin ripped the silence asunder. With beard in the wind, he roared off in the night, Shouting, "Have a cool Yule, and to all a good ride!"

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